FLOOD LOSS IN THE TAIERI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20704, 30 April 1929, Page 9

FLOOD LOSS IN THE TAIERI.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Much has been written and said regarding the damage done and hardships suffered by those who had water in their Tiouses during the recent flood in Dunedin, and 1 read in your columns that a large sum of money has been and is being raised to compensate those who say they have suffered losses. I fear that many cases of so-called hardship will be very much magnified, and I think that each individual case should be treated on its merits, and not Ifeft to those who desire to make capital out of the flood. What about those farmers in and around Berwick, Henley, and Otokia who have practically lost all their crop and winter" feed, while in some coses their grass lands are ruined, and will require to be reconditioned and again sown down in grass. I hear that some dairy farmers are so short of feed that they are compelled to sell off their cows. This flood was not a Taieri River flood, but due practically to local rainfall, and was not caused by any neglect on the part of any local bodies operating in the district. Now. Sir, are those poor unfortunate people to be allowed just to grin and suffer their losses without any sympathy or assistance. Farmers in North Otago has recently had some compensation given to them by the Government. Surely those to whom I have referred are ns much in need of assistance as others. I am not writing as one who has suffered loss in the last flood, but some years ago 1 lost through flood nearly all I had. I trust our member (Mr A. E. Ansell 1 ) will give this matter his attention and get some assistance for those who have suffered. — I am, etc. Onlooker. April 27.