WEATHER FORECASTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18231, 15 November 1924, Page 12

WEATHER FORECASTS.

CANTERBURY PROPOSAL SUPPORTED.

(snaAL to "thb pusss."*)

BLENHEIM, November 14.

The Sounds Settlors' Association passed the following resolution: That this Association heartily endorses the action of tho Canterbury Philosophical Society in drawing tho attention of tho Commission now sitting to enquiro into the possible extonsion of tho Meteorological Department to tho need for fore-casts suitable to the wants of tho pastoral interests of tho community.

In moving tho resolution Mr A. W. Nisbit refcrrod scathingly to tho attitude of the Marine Dopartmont in this matter, ns evidenced by tho annual report i u which the Secretary of the Department complained that, whereas tho expenditure in connexion with tho Woathor Bureau had been bo many thousands, tho rovenuo had been only £u 3s Id, "a most unsatisfactory state of affairs." This attitude Mr Nisbit characterised as narrow-minded, utterly lacking in vision, and betraying a very regrettable inability to differentiate between a Government Department which should show a profit, such as tho Railways, and Departments such as the Meteorological Department, which wore rendering _ a service to the community and in which tho relativo items of expenditure and revenuo wero no criterion of their usefulness or otherwise There could be no shadow of doubt that tho weather forecasts were the means of saving farmers thousands of pounds annually, and that by extending tho service as proposed the value of tho forecasts to tho farming community would bo greatly increased. Tho proposals put forward by the Canterbury Society wore, briefly, that whereas tho present weather forecasts wero primarily for seamen, and as the Dominion lived and paid its way almost solely by the produce of tho land, a system bo advocated of local forecasts specially made for eaeh meteorological division of the Dominion giving information that would bo specially useful to farmers. Tho rainfall and southerly storm should receive particular attention. In order to do that increased expenditure would be required. The cost of the telegrams for the Weather Bureau, already large, would be very much increased, and ad* •ditional observatory stations would be wanted. The co-operation of tho Australian Conimonwealtin might • also be required in respect to a sub-Antarctic station. Although tho whole community would be benefited the agriculturist and the pjistoralist would benefit most. Tho Canterbury Society had resolved to invito the co-operation of kindred societies, as well as that of the various Agricultural and Pas* toral Societies of the" Dominion, in making known their wants, to the Commission, It was. hoped that those societies would respond to the invitation and act promptly in .conveying their views to the Commission. In second the motion Mr Gv D. Rogers (the president) said there could be ho question that the weather forecasts sent out by Mr Bates were of inestimable benefit'to farmers. He quoted instances where he .'■ had very ■materially benefited in, his farming operations by taking timely warning ifrom the weather forecasts. Several other members spoke in eulogistic terniß of > the Government Meteorologist, '■'-'■.' and the' motion was carried unanimously. !