WATERS RECEDING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 47, 24 February 1945, Page 9

WATERS RECEDING

HEAVY CROP LOSSES

fc».A. CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. "With the exception of the road through, the Waimakariri Gorge, all motor traffic routes were in operation again today following the recent floods. •Work was proceeding on the approach to the Waimakariri Gorge bridge, and it is possible that this job may be completed by this evening. The flood -waters have receded in all areas in the province and rivers are [falling.

Rail traffic on a restricted scale was resumed on the Main Trunk line, [buses transporting passengers over the gap still out of use.

, Two Ministers of the Crown and (various departmental officers are in Canterbury to assess the flood damage land to report on relief measures required. Field officers of the Department of Agriculture are carrying out ia. survey of the damage caused „to, .various crops. • The loss will probably ibe most severely felt in wheat. Even ■before the floods intervened, the acreage in wheat was only 188,000 compared, with a total of 300,000 acres to meet the Dominion's requirements. Barley, oats, and linen flax losses will also be considerable. Many wheat crops are sprouting and clover crops have also been ruined in some areas. Loss was particularly severe in South .Canterbury, where the floods were of longer duration than in North Canterbury. Potato crops will be severely affected, and big areas of peas have been almost completely destroyed.

Already repair gangs are at work in most areas, and every effort is being made to bridge the gap in the Main Trunk line by Thursday.