$3000 for flood relief

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 17

$3000 for flood relief

The 49 Lions clubs in the northern half of the South Island have sent $3OOO south for flood relief, according to the Lions’ district governor (Mr D. R. Scott). He said that the club hoped to be able to send more money later. The $3OOO was a small part of a national effort by Lions clubs to provide rapid help for the flood victims ini Gtago and Southland. The national president of Federated Farmers (Mr A. F. Wright) has thanked his members for their aid to southern flood-stricken farmers. He said that farmers had been cruelly affected by heavy stock losses, for which no insurance was available. Agricultural adverse-event relief committees in the disaster areas would make

available Rural Bank loans and other help including the 50 per cent regrassing subsidy, with a maximum of $5O a hectare. When damage to farming properties had been assessed, other provinces which might wish to make offers of stock replacement or other help would be advised of specific require- : ments. ; The Government had approved the federation’s recommendation that the special farmer-relief fund qualify for a dollar-for-dollar subsidy and that gifts to the fund be tax deductible w’ithin the limit of the usual Inland Revenue allowance of $2OO. The fund would assist farmers and fruitgrowers who had suffered uninsurable losses, including livestock, fruit trees, fences, and walls.