HAWKES BAY LOSSES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30155, 12 June 1963, Page 9

HAWKES BAY LOSSES

Flood Relief Proposals

The Hawke’s Bay Flood Relief Committee held its first meeting today and assessed losses in Last week’s floods: 1400 head of stock; 100 acres of vegetables; 1000 acres of slips and pasture silting; and 35 miles of fencing. Farmers and market gardeners reported other losses including damaged farm tracks, drains and dams, 4600 vegetable cases washed away and 2000 fowls drowned. The committee resolved to call for subsidies on repairs and soil stabilisation or rehabilitation, taxation relief, subsidies on the wages of labour employed on damage repair, and interest-free loans. The recommendations will go to the Director-General of the Department of Agricul-. ture who will forward them to the Cabinet Ministers 'concerned. Mr F. B. L. Cranswick, chairman of the EskPetane branch of Federated Farmers, said a survey of farm losses in the Bayview settlement - Tangoio area was as follows: Vineyards were said to be Undamaged except for young cuttings. The meeting was told that it was too early yet to assess whether fruit trees in the small orchards had been damaged. The committee made the following proposals to the Director-General of Agriculture: A subsidy of £1 for £1 on the regrassing of silted areas and over-sowing of slips. Full tax exemption for expenditure incurred in the reerection and repair of fences and the reconstruction of access tracks and drains damaged by floods and slips. Unemployed seasonal labour to be directed by the Government to reconstruction and repair work, and that a subsidy be paid on wages. Government priority to affected farmers to obtain supplies of fencing wire. Interest free loans to be available for up to 10 years, and that the flood relief committee’s right to recommend to the Government that the loans or parts of them be waived in cases where individuals are unable to meet their commitments.