Government Assistance For Flooded Farmers

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28532, 11 March 1958, Page 11

Government Assistance For Flooded Farmers

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 10. Substantial Government assistance to farmers affected by the recent Balclutha and North Island floods was announced by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture (Mr Skinner) today after a Cabinet meeting this morning.

During the week-end, Mr Skinner toured the Waikato and Waipa areas to evaluate the needs of farmers affected by the floods in these districts.

“In cases where the farmer is unable to finance rehabilitation of his farm and incidental flood costs from his own resources, or from normal lending institutions, the Government will guarantee his overdraft,” said Mr Skinner. Each advance would be subject to review to ascertain the need for refinancing it in cases where the borrower might be unable to carry it.

“A regrassing subsidy of up to £5 an acre, and grants for flood protection undertaken by individual farmers are some of the main forms of assistance available,” said Mr Skinner. “This assistance will first be recommended by the flood relief committee, and then approved by me if it can be shown that the farmer is unable to finance the rehabilitation of his farm from his own resources, or by way of the Government-guaranteed overdraft.

Cartage of Hay “Where they have hired outside transport, farmers will be given free cartage on hay supplies for one month after the floods. This assistance will be given only to those farmers directly affected by the floods. Free cartage of hay for Balclutha farmers had been extended to the end of February,” said Mr Skinner.

On the recommendation of the flood relief committee, farmers would also be entitled to free cartage on stock moved away from flooded areas, but not on stock returned after the floods, the Minister said.

At Kaitaia it was found necessary to set up temporary milking accommodation, and the cost of erecting that would be met by the Government.

The total cost of that accommodation should be reduced by voluntary labour, and it should also be possible to salvage part of the installation after use.

“To my way of thinking,” said Mr Skinner, “these forms of assistance are very reasonable, and in the case of the regrassing subsidy, generous. They are the result of my own personal inspection of the flooded areas and of information supplied by Department of Agriculture officers, with whom I have been in close contact ever since the flood began. “They will, I hope, go a long way toward helping flood-affected farmers to get back into production as quickly as possible. “Only Necessitous Cases”

“I would emphasise that it should not be taken for granted that all farmers affected by the floods will automatically qualify for assistance. The assistance I have outlined here will be available only in necessitous cases.

Just what, constitutes a necessitous case will be decided by the local flood relief committees. The personal circumstances of individual farmers in the same area var y greatly, and it is only logical that there should be a corresponding variation in the assistance given,” said Mr Skinner. The Minister added that while they were engaged on committee affairs, farmer members of flood relief committees would be paid a car mileage allowance at Public Service rates.

Flood Relief Fund At £7852 (New Zealand Preet Association) AUCKLAND, March 10. The “New Zealand Herald” flood relief fund, which reached £7852 today, will be closed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. A further £BB6 18s was given today by 167 contributors. An elderly woman counted out £lOO in £lO notes across the “Herald” counter.