CLIMATE AND WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 4, 26 March 1927, Page 18 (Supplement)

CLIMATE AND WORK

CONDITIONS ON WEST COAST How wet is the West Coast? This question cropped up in the Christchurch Arbitration Court recently. Mr. E. C. Sutcliffe, who was appearing as advocate in a case, quoted figures from the latest year book to show that there was no reason why outside work on the West Coast : should be held up on account of rain to a greater extent than in some other parts of the Dominion. He said the figures showed that during the year there were 207 wet days at Invercargill. Hokitika also had the same number. Justice Fraser: That surely is a libel on Invercargill. I understood in recent years they had been having drought conditions down there. His Honour added that the figures quoted by Mr. Sutcliffe were not wholly reliable. These figures gave days on which rain fell with no reference to the? amount which fell on each day. The trouble on the West Coast was that when it started to rain it meant business. It was not a matter of scattered showers. When rain set in it rained the whole day. Mr. Sutcliffe: I have heard it said that it was so wet on the West Coast that children over there are born webfooted. On two occasions I have been over there, there has been beautiful sunshine.