RAINFALL AND TRANSPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19456, 12 October 1926, Page 8

RAINFALL AND TRANSPORT.

The Minister of Agriculture describes the recent rainfall as most welcome and opportune. It is—from his point of view. There is another. It is the viewpoint of those whose business compels them to travel or send goods by rail or road. They may agree with him that the downfall which has been fairly general in both islands will be very beneficial to pastures ; but their enthusiasm about it will have been considerably damped by their experiences of late, and they probably have a wish to refer him to the Ministers of Public Works and of Railways. There is a serious aspect of this matter that appeals quite as much to country folk as to the dwellers in towns. Loss, as well as inconvenience, is being occasioned by the disorganising of communications through rising rivers, spreading storm-water and landslips. It is no light matter that the timetables of trains and service-cars are being broken and that somo places aro cut off from the outer world. Even a brief interruption of transport entails loss. In Borne instances the havoc wrought through damage to bridges will take much time to

repair. Were this experience unique it might be regarded as a misfortune to be suffered with fortitude: in the best-regulated systems of transport there come unforeseen happenings that put routine out of joint, and they can be borne accordingly. But the experience is by no means unique. Almost every year there is interruption, more or less serious, on certain main routes. Hie flooding in the vicinity of the Mercer railway station is a case in point. It is high time this portion of the chief highway of this provincial district had adequate protection from floodwaters, either by the building of a stop-bank or the making of a safe deviation. There are other routes with similar risks of interruption whenever heavy rainfall occurs. Toward them all an attitude is adopted that is all too easy-going: there is a periodic grumble in the winter and early spring, and an agreement that something ought to be done ; then, when better weather supervenes, the determination weakens and is forgotten. The lesson of this month, taught earlier in this year and in previous years, is one to be taken to heart by Government departments and local authorities.