THE RECENT DROUGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 20 March 1908, Page 3

THE RECENT DROUGHT.

DISTRIBUTION , OF GRASS SEED. (By Telegraph. — Own Reporter.) ROTORUA, this day. In an interview with the Premier, respecting various statements that have boon niadi- accusing tho Government of laxity in supplying grass seed to those affected by tlie bush fires, Sir Joseph Ward said that, as the result of enquiries, he found that there was absolutely nothing to warrant such comments. In tho Wellington district one hundred and twenty-four cases had been dealt with at a cost of £5,468, and in Auckland forty cases, costing £1.500. Thirteen hundred pounds had been spent in Taranaki, in the Blenheim district sixteen eases had cost £ 1.400. and in Nelson .£BOO had been expended in dealing with thirty-one cases. Nothing had been spent in Invercargill. A total of two hundred and eighty-three applications had been dealt with, representing an expenditure of .C 10,4f>8. In the Hawke's Bay district twenty cases were under investigation. and everything would be fixed by the incoming week. In Auckland twenty-five additional cases were expected to be dealt with that day. In Southland only one application had been received.

"The Lands Department, which had been carrying out the distributing work done, by the Government, had, I am informed by the Minister for Lands," said the Premier, "been complimented all round upon the expedition and promptness generally shown in the despatch of seed, and every case, has necessarily to be examined by an officer connected with the Department. As a matter of fact the district to suffer most is the Wellington Provincial District, as can be. seen by the figures I have given, but every application has been promptly dealt with, and an examination officer sent at once to investigate and report. That, of course, has been necessary, as the settlers themselves have fully recognised. The Government are anxious to do all it can to help in the matter, and to expedite things, so that the settlers who have suffered may benefit by the first rains for their crop of grass. ,.