OMAPERE STOCK LOSSES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

OMAPERE STOCK LOSSES

REPLY TO MINISTER

HASTINGS, Aug. 23.

A reply to the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr Skinner) concerning conditions at Omapere soldiers’ settlement, in Hawke’s Bay, has been made by Mr F. L. Forde, a local farmer. “Two farmers —not many, as stated by Mr Skinner —have suffered losses in the neighbourhood,” says Mr Forde. “I myself am only half a mile from Omapere. My losses are under 2 per cent, of ewes. The storm referred to by Mr Skinner was on the night of August 15-IG, but on Sunday, August 12, I saw i the property, in company with Mr Sydney Greenbie, _of the American Legation. He was far from impressed. On August 14 I liad with

me Mr R. E. Talbot, of the Primary Production Council. Things were worse. On August 15 the property was seen by local members of Federated Farmers. The tally on one paddock was 97 lambs and 12 ewes dead. On August 19, after the storm, Messrs C. G. Barker (M.P. for Waipawa), G. Logan (Waipawa R.S.A.) and R. E. Stratford (R.S-A. rehabilitation officer) thoroughly inspected the property. The lamb losses were all over 80 per cent., but starvation because the ewes had no milk was to blame.

“A report to the appropriate authority in Wellington has been sent by a responsible officer. I happen to know that this report was compiled by the officer, who did not even visit the property in person. How can the full facts he presented without a full and detailed inspection?”