RAETIHI RELIEF FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 7

RAETIHI RELIEF FUNDS

' A SATISFACTORY REPORT,

During March, .1918,: disastrous bush fires .devastated large area? of country in the Raetihi and adjoining districts. The losses of stock and the of improvements wero so. heavy, that tho Government had to come to the aid of the settlers.' The public subscribed a' sum of ,£M,OOO. and the Government added a subsidy of .£IO,OOO to Telicve,immediate necessities. These funds wero used chiefly for tho 'benefit of 1 workers and township' residents. The Government: assisted tho farmers in their tasks of reinstatement by raisins a loan ot ■«£7s,ooo ! and lending this money in suitable sums. The 'subsidy and the- loan wero provided at-the suggestion of the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister of lands, who himself made a personal examination of the devastated areas."' . . Mr; Guthrie' said yesterday. tliM, the confidence of the' Government had not been misplaced, nnd that <1 relief funa was now available for "unforeseen ■ disasters, snch as bush fires, floods, and. snowstorms. , Of the loan n-.onera a total ot ,£00,551 had been lent to settlers, and not only had the interest been paid ui practically every case, but .the repayments already' amounted to ,£15,323. The cash in the Treasury at the end of last month was *£21,774,,' of. which £10 000 has been reinvested. Promissory notes for twelve months, and two years were taken to secure grass seed advances, and mortgages for. seven years to secure advances for etoclc and implements. It, ivas anticipated that many of .the settlers would require an extension of time tor. the promissory notes falling due at the end of twefrc months, but only fifty settlers required such assistance. Sixteen settlers'have sold their holdings and re-, naid the advances made to them for grass' seed, arid six have repaid .the advances on mortgage.