RUINED FARMS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15606, 2 June 1916, Page 3

RUINED FARMS.

I TO REPAIR WAR'S HAVOC. APPEAL TO CANTERBURY FARMERS. At a meeting held under the auspices of the Canterbury A. and P. Association and attended by delegates from the Ashburton, Methven. Waiau, Hawaxdon, Amberley. Rangiora, and Leeston Associations, the question of supporting the Agricultural Relief of Allies' Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society was discusscd. The committee was formed over twelve moths ago under the patronage of his Majesty tho King for the purpose of assisting the agriculturists of the countries allied with Great Britain which have been invaded by the armies of Germany and her allies. The Duke of Portland, as president of the committee, wrote to the Canterbury A. and P. Association that tho committee had supplied machinery, stock, and seeds to the peasant farmers- in the Marro aid Moii-> regions wiicse lands had been <•!■ and by the Miomy, In* it ',7:ls found nivr.s-iii'i tii.it measures tr-r n.trrn relit t ;tiid t'nr r'uuds iii",..-c b.- iir;.;.mixthey would oe :'■•"l.-;:-, d jts soon as the enemy was driven oil. A request was- mad.' that the matter shou'ei receive earnest; ar.d s.) ia pa tli otic attention. The Canter bury A. and P. Association si!t, up a committee in connexion with the matter, with Mr Henry Overton as chairiii in ar.d Mr O. 15. Pemberton as secretary. At the meeting on Wednesday, when the representatives oi the other A. and I'. Associations 'n Canterbury were present. Mr George Gould was appointed treasurer of the fund. It was decided to forward the foilowmg remit to the Dominion Conference of A. and P. Associations which is ro_nH'ct in Wellington this month:—• I " l irii the Agrieii!t.*ir.*il ami Pastoral' 'Associations in the Dcmii i:>n b? asked to start and vigorously promote the movement for collecting funds for the settlement on the hinds of.ruined Bc!- .';: an farmers, and.that' the 'Government be as!;ed to subsidise, any moneys collected, £ for L\" ft. was a!-o derided to isSue immediately the following appeal, to bo forwarded by circular to the farmers and pnstoralists of Canterbury:— "In response to the appeal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, our Canterbury A. and P. Association has appointed a committee to collect cash donations in aid of the Belgium Agricultural Restoration Fut:d. also i gifts of stud stock, seeds, grain, etc., j ■suitable for shipment to Belgium". I ''Through their loyalty to Great I Britain and France, these brave, people, : of Belgium at the earlv stages of the war probably prevented tho Germans from taking possession of France, and, owing to the noble stand they took, their once rich and beautiful lands are to-day laid waste, their stock, implements, and buildings gone; hence the urgent- necessity, of our joining in tho great movement now being made bv the a griciltural community of Great Britain. "'The special object of this appeal is to enable these ruined farmers to be reinstated upon the land as regained, and at the earliest possible moment placed in a position to grow food and >tock for their practically starving millions. '"Let us not forget that probably for our comfortable position generally owe more than words can express to these splendid Belgians, who so nobly <iid their best to withstand the German Arhiy, until Great Britain and Franco were able to plae° their forces -into the front, and nothing we can do can retviY them for tho great Sacrilice the.v made. "Remen i be r '"g what has been done for us. and the phenomerallv happy financial position of New Zealand today. let I'*; respond in a true British spirit, at?d .help to our utmost in the rjreat work undertaken Nv the Royal Agricultural Society of England."