STORM DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22352, 25 February 1936, Page 10

STORM DAMAGE

HELP FOB, ORCHARDISTS CASH ADVANCES PROBABLE STATEMENT BY MINISTER SURVEY TO BE MADE A statement that the Government would probably make advances in cash •jo orchardists who had experienced heavy losses through the severe storm at the beginning of this month, was made by the Minister of Justice. Hon. H. G. R. Mason, in Auckland yesterday. Mr. Mason said the Government was arranging to have a survey of the damage made and orchardists would be assisted in proportion to the extent of their losses. In cases in which advances were made a long teiin would be allowed for repayment, and the interest charged would be at a low rate. " Details of the proposal, the Minister continued, were still under consideration, but the final plans would be formulated well beforo the new growing season. RUINED CROPS CANTERBURY RAINS FARMERS' ESTIMATES VARY [BY TELEGRAFH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday Tho fine weather over the week-end gave farmers a chance to make a survey of their crops, and in practically all districts • except Rangiora County, parts of the south, and Banks Peninsula, it is generally agreed that the heavy damage feared when the storm was at its height has not been done. That Much grain has been spoiled is undoubted, and no final estimate of losses can be made until this week has shown what weather it will bring, but farmers in most districts are relived to find that the damage to their erops is'not likely to bo as great as at first thev thought. Growers of cocksfoot on Banks Peninsula have grave fears that much of the value of their crops has gone. One of * the largest growers estimated that half . his crop had been knocked out, and he .. said others had suffered severely also. None qf the crop had begun to germinate yet, however, and if the warm weather, continued threshing could goon be started. In other districts the only farmers to suffer extensively seem to have been if ,„ those whose crops were growing in gullies, or on low-lying land. Some of the crops in gullies wore swept against fences, but it is considered that parts of some of them might be salvaged. The crops on low-lying ground were under water, but the rapidity with which the water has drained off gives hope that, with good weather, the damage will be comparatively small. Since the storm the weather has been warm. What the farmers want is a ■trong drying wind. No one is able to say positively what the wheat losses will amount to. One estimate of the loss of £500,000 has been given by Mr. H. E. West, head of the Wheat Research Institute, but " farmers do not agree that the losses will approach this figure. Nobody has made a complete survey of all the , areas. Some crops are ruined, while others are scarcely damaged. Although the rain has done damage in many ways, it has been beneficial in at least one respect. The growth of feed , in all parts of the country is extraordinarily vigorous, and a good foundation/ for autumn grazing seems assured, DANGER FROM TREES -• MENACE TO ELECTRIC LINES POWER FOR REMOVAL SOUGHT £by telegraph OWN correspondent] PALMERSTON NORTH. Monday Proposals to minimise the damage and loss caused during storms by falling trees on electrical supply lines were discussed at a conference to-day of representatives of power boards, county councils and municipalities. It was decided to make representations, to the Government with a view to wider powers' being given supply authorities • * to deal with trees likely to become a menace. The' delegates numbered over 50, while ■ the Post and Telegraph and Public Works Departments were represented: Six members of Parliament were ;< also in attendance. The conference was a sequel to the cyclone which swept Manawatu, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa at tho beginning of the month, causing thousands of pounds of damage in the loss of electrical lines alone. Tho conference carried the following resolution: —" That this conference urges on the Government the necessity for power to be given to local authoriC. ties, • including power boards, to give notice to the owner or occupier of land on which trees are growing that they are a menace or are likely to be a menace to tho lines and roads, and to •: remove them within a specified time, ,c - and, failing their removal, the local body'inay enter on the land and remove them." It was also decided, but not unanimously, that where trees are a menace or danger to lines, the owner or occu••pier should be given the option of having them trimmed or topped or cut down, the latter s to be done free of charge, but the cost of the former to be borne by the occupier and become , a charge on the land; and that where the occupier plants trees subsequent to the erection of lines, he should be comI, pellpd to cut them down at his own cost if they become a menace. MONEY FOR REPAIRS GOVERNMENT'S PLANS COUNTY COUNCILS REASSURED [by telegraph—own correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday In explaining the general principle on which tho Government would assist county, councils iu paying for the cost of repairing flood damage the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. It. Sernple, during his tour of Taranaki yesterday said the councils would be subsidised ,> for their expenditure on repairs. He had Cabinet's authority to say that if a local body, could not find its share of the cost the . Government would lend the money at a low rate of interest over ,l' r a long term of years. "Jf the councils v ? cannot, then raise tho money thfe Government will review each case on its merits," continued Mr. Semple, "but tho counties need have no headaches. Tho .terms will be easy for Ave cannot . have people tied up for access." '. With reference to the regulations concerning the proportions of subsidy j for main highways and for county roads, the Minister said: "Nothing will r ~" stop us from providing that. If the law is in the way we shall soon fix that same as tho boards"