PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC

Evening Star, Issue 21623, 19 January 1934, Page 8

PRIME MINISTER OPTIMISTIC

CONTINUATION OF GOOD WOOL PRICES MR FORBES NOW IN [Pu Ukitsd Pum Amociatiok.] OAMARU, January 18. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. WForbes) commenced a tour of the South Island to-day, this being the first time for three years that he has been south of Christchurch. The reason for the tour, said .Mr Forbes, in replying to a civio_ welcome at Ashburton, was to enable him: to see the progress of the country and to see the effects of the Government's policy, in operation. He took an optimistic view of the present situation, pointing to high prices of wool, and saia it was likely that for this season and the next season these good prices would continue.While at Ashburton, Mr Forbes inspected the irrigation experiments being carried out by Lincoln College and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.' He also inspected an: area of 2,600 acres of wheat, oats, and root crops, which were destroyed by a hailstorm, and gave a promise of sympathetic consideration to the farmer* who waited on him asking for financial 1 assistance to enable them to sow. next i year’s crop. The Prime Minister stated' that officers of the Department _of Agriculture would make an inspection of all the ruined farms, and, where necessary, the. Government would, probably grant long term easy repayment loans to distressed farmers to enable them to carry on. ■ In the afternoon Mr Forbes visited Timaru, where he was entertained by, the Borough Council at afternoon tea, later leaving for Oamaru, where he received an official welcome at night. Tomorrow. the Prime Minister will visit the Waitaki hydro-electric works, and will proceed to Pembroke to spend the night there.