ORCHARDISTS' FROST LOSSES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19806, 19 December 1929, Page 8

ORCHARDISTS' FROST LOSSES.

SMALL LOANS FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

As an outcome of the deputation which waited on the Hon. Mr Forbes, Minister for Agriculture, on November 1-ith, and asked that financial assistance Should be given by the Government to those fruitgrowers whose crops -were damaged by frosts, the Department of Agriculture, Christehureh, has been advised that the Government has decided to make advances to growers who are in difficulties.

The information received by the Department in Christcliureh sets out that as a limited sum only is available loans will be made only to those -who cannot carry on without assistance, and whose financial position is such that they arc unable to make their own arrangements for the additional finance required. For the purpose of applying for a loan a form has been prepared, which must be filled in and posted to the DirectorGeneral, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, not later than January 10th, 1930. These forms can be obtained at the .office of the Department in Christchurch.

The loans are. to to made through the State Advances Department at 5 per cent, on the best security available, and repayable over such period as shall be arranged by the State Advances Department. The special particulars required arc as follows: —

Area of crops damaged by frost; nature of crops damaged by frost (e.g., apples, etc.); estimated quantity of produce totally lost through frost ("e.g., cases ot apples, etc.); estimated quantity of produce merely damaged by frost; estimated value of such loss and/or damage; realised or estimated proceeds from sale of crop after frost; total income for year from all sources: rent and/or mortgage charges paid or payable. The applicant is then required to certify that he is unable to carry on without assistance to an amount which he states, and that bis equity on his farm and his general financial position are such that he is unable to make his own arrangements to obtain the required assistance privately.