N.Z. NEEDS DISTRICT PRODUCTION: MINISTER ON FLOOD AFTERMATH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22655, 4 June 1948, Page 4

N.Z. NEEDS DISTRICT PRODUCTION: MINISTER ON FLOOD AFTERMATH

T OSSES suffered by farmers in the flooded areas of the JU

Gisborne district are of national concern, for the resultant fall in production from some of the richest lands in the Dominion must affect the over-all economy of the country. Keen appreciation of this fact was expressed today by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. E. L. Cullen, who arrived last evening from Wairoa to inspect the flood-damaged area here and to consult with leaders of the farming community on measures to minimise agricultural and pastoral losses.-

The Minister spent part of yesterday visiting the Wairoa area in which flooding occurred concurrently with the Gisborne inundation, and, discussing what he had seen, mentioned that the scope of the flooding there was much smaller than that on the Gisborne lowlands. Where the Wairoa River had over- ■ flowed its banks, serious losses had been 1 inflicted on farmers and townsmen, but i the river did not have the extent of i low country in which to spread before the weight of water forced a channel out to sea.

Repair work in the Wairoa district would not represent the large-scale problem which his officers had found here, Mr. Cullen said Tribute to Relief Work He had not had an opportunity to form his own impression of the damage on the Gisborne fiats, the Minister stated, but from knowledge of the district and the effects of past floods he realised fully that farmers affected by the inundation were in a critical position. The relief organisation created by the people of Gisborne and farmers on the higher country had done magnificent work, he understood, and voluntary assistance rendered by working-parties from town must have been invaluable to the striken families.

The fellow-feeling evinced by the young farmers of the Wellington-Mana-watu district, who had sent a large party to Gisborne to undertake fencing work for the flood sufferers, was commented upon by Mr. Cullen as an outstanding example of practical help. Young Farmers Thanked The Minister called at the billets of the young farmer’s party at the Gisborne showgrounds last evening, on his arrival from Wairoa, and took an opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the action to overcome one of the most pressing problems raised by the recent inundation. He found the party well housed and keenly appreciative of the arrangements made for their reception. They were just as keen on doing a good job in the district, and reports indicated that they already had made a good start with their task.

"To get fence-lines cleared and boundaries secured must be a tremendous help to the farmers affected,” said Mr. Cullen. “The aftermath of any disaster such as this leaves the occupants of farm lands at their wits’ end, with so many tasks demanding attention that it seems impossible to handle everything. To get a substantial degree of help at this critical time must be invaluable."

Losses of maize in this district are particularly damaging to the grain prospects of the Dominion, the Minister indicated. The country needed all the maize it could grow, and it was essential to recover as much as possible from the silted areas.

Prior to the flood he had calculated that it "would just be possible to get through the year without importing maize from abroad. The extent to which the Gisborne crop could be harvested would have an important bearing upon the question of importation still.