WEATHER WARNINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8189, 2 August 1912, Page 1

WEATHER WARNINGS

VALUE TO FARMERS METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT CONGRATULATED. "As the Government lias increased the number of places to winch weather forecasts will be sent, the conference expresses its appreciation of the same, ana requests that .the same facilities be given to farmers as is extended to mariners.' This resolution was adopted at yesterdays session of tho Dominion Confeieuco of tile New Zealand Farmers Union after delegates had listened to an address by the Rev. D. C. Bates (Government Meteorologist). Air Bates said thousands of pounds had been saved in this country through timely weather forecasts. In the dispatching of warnings groat assistance was rendered by the telegraph department. which handled the forecasts tree of charge. On several occasions unnng the past three years, what were calico ‘ general warnings” had been sent out. These went to practically every post office- in the Dominion, and on every Occasion' they bad been justified. if these messages were charged for, they would cost hundreds of pounds. Every day tho meteorological office sent out warnings to one hundred places, and authority had been, given tor another hundred to be added. To the best of his ability he had chosen the most important places to include in this increased number.

DIFFICULTIES OF FORECASTING. It gave him pleasure to notice how much good tno quiet work of the small meteorological staff was doing. Prior to tho issuing of warnings, men in the Alackenzie country had lost 7o per cent, of their stock through bad weather. Now, because of timely warnings, they could remove their stock to places that afforded shelter and feed. He and his staff did their work with very great care, and watched, day and night, the movements of the storms. It was not always easy to tell where a storm would strike. On one side they had thousands of miles of sea, and the storm might strike tho North Island or the South Island, or. as sometimes, happened, tt might pass south of New Zealand and not be felt. Because a predicted storm did not occur in any particular spot, did not mean that the warning was wrong, but indicated that tho storm bad passed the country without striking it. He thanked those farmers, who, by personal observations in their own particular localities had rendered great assistance to the department. AA’ith regard to shipping, there was c system whereby mariners, by a. reply paid telegram, costing only l 6d, could obtain a report. Ho hoped_ to see tn<= day when ©very town iu New Zealand would receive its weather report. Delegatee congratulated Mr Bates on the accuracy of the forecasts, and on the motion of -Mr H. D. Vavasour (Blenheim) it was unanimously resolveo "That this conference .of the, Pannerc" Union expresses its 1 hearty. appreciation of the admirable, work', that, Mr ,Batehas - done" in the past, and the grear Ijelp he . is. giving . the farming community at large."