More Rainmaking Trials Wanted

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30715, 2 April 1965, Page 3

More Rainmaking Trials Wanted

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, April 1. Farmers in Central and North Otago feel that more rainmaking trials should be carried out in New Zealand to help counteract future droughts.

Rainmaking in Australia | proved successful recently ! and may be used to fight the 'drought now crippling huge (areas of northern New South

Wales and Queensland. In spite of some success in the past, Government departments appear to have lost interest in rainmaking tests in New Zealand. They feel that previous results do not justify more expenditure. Representations were made to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) by Mr A. D. Dick. M.P. for Waitaki, on behalf of North Otago farmers at the height of the recent drought. Mr Taiboys told Mr Dick the Agriculture Department had kept a close watch on rainmaking overseas and had found no reliable methods had yet been formulated. Studies of clouds and physical conditions in Otago and other parts of New Zealand had been carried out. These indicated that cloud seeding would be of little consequence. But Mr Dick said today he was prepared to “follow up any avenue” in the simulation of rain if it would help the fanners. “It appears they have broken into something in Australia, and I will ask the Minister of Agriculture to look into it again,” he said.