GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 125, 19 February 1908, Page 8

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

: PURCHASE OF GRASS SEED. ■ " PROMPT ACTION. ; The Government , is. giving' prompt assistance to fai mers whose lands have been swept by firei to'replace'the burnt'grass. Where application is., made.to .'the district authority the Land Board ranger, makes inquiries and .obtains-an-estimate-opthe area required 'to ■bo re-sown and tho amount of seed necessary. ;The ; Commissioner in each district has authority from the Under-Secretary , (Mr. W. 'C. Kensington);; to accept m urgent cases the settler's promissory note for . the .cost of the seed, and without delay the. seed is purchased. and'handeo'-oVdr. The 'promissory note is for a'lengthy, term, so that'the'outlay shall: not press- heavily ,on'thejurifortunat'eVfarmer.Every! settlor : requiring, aid receives, help in this way,, irrespective 'of whet-: her. he is a .Crown tenant or hot; , . Already many;applications)ihave.;.beeh made,.and relief; afforded.: • The system is the outcome'of communica•tions received-by the' Minister from-all over thq- Dominion. Where cases aro riot urgent refcrence r is:.ma'de by tho. district authorities to. the . Ufider-S^jrettjy;" ; ;Tho point aimed 'at .is'.to .afford ihimediate.'relief where it is re--':with6ut;'. .any';; delay "taking place through, formalities,.'and for tliis reason the calling, of tenders for seed is dispensed'with in such cases, and M direct purchases made iwith. the seed ■ mercliants. , Where there is 110 need. for haste -tenders will be called in the usual way. , A 1 , A : ';of : letters have como to band 'stating'.the.'Urgency-that exists in i>:ahy cases in yariou's; parts-,'of the Dominion. Tho fires,.,however,;, aro' .still'j burning,i ind 'it is too: early,:yet in, some instances.to estimate what.quantity ofcgrass-Seed ; wil]'b6 required. It is' probable/the fires'nlill continuo to. bum until rain comes. Though the prcseuc dry weather and, the a hardship in; tho first instance, ,it is'generally concerted that" their futuro' effect' will 'be ueneficial horn:the destruction .of:-weeds/cind insects. .

Regarding the r ;distress and .hss fr->m bush fires, in';; the,, Aucklanddistrict, accounts of which have been published each day, and the hope: expressed in , a -telegram on Monday morning that. State help would be given, Ministers'-in town who 'have been consulted state that no proposal',of the sort has iyet como before them. The Premier is in Auckland,''and probably is'iri touch with tllo matter. The Minister for Lands, whoso Department,is. generally, associated with, action in the.niatt'erifis r at present.in,. West-land.': ■ STATEMENT;;]3Y .MR. M'NAB. (DV TELEGRAI-U —PRESS .ASSOCIATION.) •Y ; " v Christchurch, February 18. The North Island /bush' fires, said Mr. ,M'Nab, ; ; -Minister ~foi; Lands, to a Christichureh ''interviewer," have been ' the most serious;which .the districts involved have over suffered. ''I intend following the usual practice of' letting Crown tenants have grass seed for re-sowing on''easy terms. A - number ■ of ■ -application's ' havo already been re- , delved,''' and'' these will"' have prompt attention. In regard; to Crown 1 lands, instructions havo been issued to tho Commissioners ;to , act upon their initiative. Luckily niost of "tho sottlers affected'are well off, but-tho .fires ..will haye- a most serious effect upon the dairy industry, and incidentally, of course, upon the output of button The output of .numerous factories has been dimin-lshcd.-'by-.fully.'3oi per' coiit. -With tho reduced carrying capacity of much of. the land it is doubtful if ..the shortage will be completely overtaken next season."