Farmers’ eye on drought financing

Press, 7 April 1989, Page 3

Farmers’ eye on drought financing

By

CHRIS MAHONY

Federated Farmers officials agreed at a meeting in Ashburton yesterday to monitor “very closely” the seasonal finance provisions of the Government’s drought relief package.

Seasonal financiers were described as the “key players” by the president of South Canterbury Federated Farmers, Mr Don McFarlane.

He said the meeting between farming leaders from Canterbury and North Otago and Ministry of Agriculture officials was constructive and positive, but he called for the package to be implemented in a fair and consistent way.

“We have a concern that many farmers who were viable before the drought may not be helped. We therefore agreed to monitor very closely just how the seasonal finance package is implemented,” he said.

Mr McFarlane said the farmers had an assurance from the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, that he would be available for discussions if it was found that farms which were viable before the drought were not being helped.

“We think all the players in this have a responsibility to try to deliver all the $36 million the Government set aside in the package. That money has the potential, to generate quite a deal of purchasing power in the region.”

The role of the New Zealand Rural Trust — established last September to administer the Restart programme and help farming families in difficulty — was also discussed at the meeting.

The trust is scheduled to be wound up on November 1.