Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, MAY 12, 1913. AN ALARMIST'S PREDICTION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9489, 12 May 1913, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, MAY 12, 1913. AN ALARMIST'S PREDICTION.

New Zh aland has good reason to complain of the individual who, after a hurried rush through the country, gives forth to the world the hastily drawn conclusions lie has formed of the people and their institutions. Invariably such opinions are a reflex of a single outlook —the aspect of that class with whom the investigator came most in contact —and very often his own personal bias is allowed to still further distort the impressions that have been gathered in this casual manner. But the Dominion has a still greater grievance with such a pronouncement as that of Professor Percival, of the Freiburg University, who predicts "a big blow-up" in New Zealand perhaps more destructive than the Tarawera eruption. His reasons are that since his visit in 1897 there has been a great increase in thermal activity at Rotorua, and that the safety valve of Tarawera is now rilled up. These may be satisfying reasons enough for Professor Percival, but it is greatly to be regretted that the scientists did not discuss the matter with auothrities in New Zealand before dogmatising on the subject so confidently in Sydney. His statements undoubtedly tend to injure the Dominion as a desirable tourist resort and as an attractive immigration country. That Professor Percival is not correct either in his observations or his deductions is equally certain as several New Zealand authorities have lost no time in demonstrating. Professor Thomas, of Auckland, effectively disposes of our alarmist visitor's observations by pointing out that the thermal activity at Rotorua -varies from time to time and that his investigation shows there has been no increase in activity there. Mr R. Speight, of Canterbury College, another undoubted authority, describes Professor Percival's views as "one of those alarming and sensational statements that little credence should be attached to." He says the line of fault does exist, and it will at times break out at various places, and the centre of activity will change. The general appearances are, however, that volcanic action is decadent, though a little while ago Ngauruhoe was more active than it had been for some time. Volcanic activity in the thermal districts is on the decline. In any case, says Mr Speight, this very alarming statement does not affect the position in New Zealand as a whole, but it is one of those dangerous things that cause so many people in different parts of the world, especially in Australia, to think that ,New Zealand is in imminent danger of being blown up and sinking beneath the sea. New Zealanders will, of course, not be in the least perturbed by such predictions, but it is unfortunate that they should be allowed to go with the weight of Professor Percival's name behind them. The opinion of those scientists who have been studying thermal actiyit/ Zealand for

many years is nacre worthy of crsde4©e than? these' |l] statements, much emphasis and publicity.'