Govt moves to help farmers

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33917, 9 August 1975, Page 1

Govt moves to help farmers

Local co - ordinating committees might be established in Canterbury to find out what assistance farmers needed after last week’s gale, the Under-Secret-ary of Agriculture (Mr B. G. Barclay) said yesterday. He has just met a deputation including representatives of Federated Farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation. Representatives of the Ministry of Works and Development also attended. The regional advisory

officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Christchurch (Mr D. G. Reynolds) said afterwards that it was intended to set up five committees in Canterbury. It is envisaged that the committees will comprise representatives of Federated Farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Rural Bank. They would be able to co-opt representatives of local bodies, the Forest Service, and the Ministry of Works. Mr Barclay had asked that the Ministry consult with local Federated Farmers organisations during the weekend, and that a meeting be held in Christchurch on

Monday to discuss appropriate recommendations for possible Government assistance. There were features common to the whole of the province arising from the storm, but this did not preclude individual committees from making any requests which they considered particularly appropriate to their own areas, Mr Reynolds said. Farmers who had an immediate financial problem should discuss this with the Rural Bank. The bank could consider assisting farmers if necessary, Mr Barclay said. “The . Government has set up the Rural Bank to service

the farming industry, and farmers who have financial problems should, at all Times, feel free to discuss those problems with the bank’s officers,” he said. In a joint statement the provincial presidents of North and Mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers, Messrs P. G. Morrison and J. G. Humm. saickthat Mr Barclay had told them that consideration would be given to all approaches to the bank for financial assistance. FINANCIAL ASPECTS They said that they had pointed out to him the problems facing farmers as a result of the storm. Even if a farmer had the

money, and had to spend $lO,OOO in replacing capital assets, he would have that much less available to spend on his normal farming operations. This was bound to have that much less available to spend on his normal farming operations. This was bound to have a long-term effect on production. The industry was already! confronted with difficult! economic conditions, they! said. The Ministry of Agriculture would consult with the Forest Service, the Ministry of Works and Development lor local authorities to over- , come any particular problems, Mr Barclay said.