SOUTH CANTERBURY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 49, 27 February 1945, Page 6

SOUTH CANTERBURY

STATE AID TO SUFFERERS

P.A. TIMARU, February 26. Every effort is being made by the Government to assist farmers and others who are suffering as the result of last' week's floods. The Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) and the Minister of Agriculture fMr. Roberts) have been right through the district, and have already put in train measures designed for the speedy restoration of road and rail services. Representatives of the Treasury and the Commissioner of Supply are also in the district discussing the supply of essential commodities and financial assistance.

The Minister of Agriculture released a- statement indicating that supplies of fencing wire, etc., would be made available to farmers immediately.

So far as finance is concerned, three forms of assistance are to be offered, namely (1) grants to cover living expenses where the income of the sufferer is for the time being lost and where he has no resources to call on; (2) grants to cover the cost of repair or replacements of household furnishings and personal effects where replacement cannot be effected without hardship; (3) advances by way of loan to replace or repair damage to or loss of buildings, .farm stocks, and farm implements. The loans are to be for terms of one, two, and three years or more free of interest and even free of principal repayments, every case to be treated on its merits.

Good progress is being made to repair the huge gap in the railway at Temuka, and the line should be open in a day or two. Meantime, convoys of army lorries are carrying passengers from Rangitata to Timaru, where they entrain for the south. The convoys then return with \ travellers going north.

The pipeline supplying Timaru with water has been badly damaged, and the Public Works Department is installing two pumps in an 'effort to alleviate the shortage.