FARMERS AND RAIN

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1936, Page 2

FARMERS AND RAIN

(Per Press Association;. AUCKLAND, February 11. “That in view of the misleading weather reports, published daily in the press, which can only be classed as dead reckonings, or rule of thumb, we request that the Meteorological Department be reorganised.” This remit was moved by Air. T. D. Bathgate (Kaipara) at a meeting of the Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, to-day. The mover said that for the last few months, the weather had been mostly “scattered, showers,” and it was a common saying now. when scattered showers were prophesied, they could look forward for a deluge. The first warning of the recent storm was the fall of the barometer. In his district, 300 or 400 pigs and sheen were lost. With a warning, they might have been removed to safe ground. “The Government is paying a salary to a man who is not doing his job,” Air. Bathgate added. Air. J. H. Furniss said that several lives were lost because no warning was given. An amendment, moved by Air. A. B. Moore, that the Government be requested to place larger financial resources at the disposal of the Department, lapsed for the want of a seconder. The remit was adopted in the following form: That this meeting requests that- the Government Meteorological Department be reorganised.