FLOOD RELIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 11

FLOOD RELIEF.

ESK VALLEY FARMS. MATERIAL FOR FENCING. __ i (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, Monday. Authority has been granted by the Cabinet for expenditure on materials for the erection of fences in the Esk Valley area. This statement was made by the chairman of the relief committee, Mr. J. W. Palmer, this evening. Mr. Palmer said that farmers would have to make application to the Department of Agriculture for supplies of materials and the basis of distribution would be the same as that used for grass seed.

Nothing had yet actually been done in the way of erecting fences, said Mr. Palmer, in outlining the plan of campaign that would be followed. The first object of the Department would be to separate the hill country from the flats and places where grass seed had been sown. When this had been completed it would be necessary as soon as possible to erect boundary fences on the resurveyed properties. To what extent it would be possible to assist with the subdivision of each property it was impossible to estimate at the present stage.

Mr. Palmer said that early grass sown was coming away well, but fields being sown now would have to be assisted by some form of cultivation, probably by harrowing. So far, wandering stock had not caused much trouble to the pastures, but unless the fences were erected before stock was brought back damage would undoubtedly result.