DAMAGE TO PASTURES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23492, 5 May 1938, Page 17

DAMAGE TO PASTURES

EFFECTS OF THE FLOODS STOCKOWNERS' GRAVE PLIGHT (Per United Press Association) HASTINGS, May 4. Ruinous loss, conservatively estimated at 50 per cent, of all pastures in the huge area between the Esk River, the Waikare River, and the east coast, has been caused by the floods. Pastures have been covered or obliterated by thousands of slips, the total area affected being about 110,000 acres. In smaller localities within the large area slips destroyed approximately 75 per cent, of the pastures, and the plight of stockowners is grave. Estimates of the damage caused by slips has been provided by pilots who have travelled from day to day over the isolated areas relieving settlers distressed by a shortage of food or lack of necessary supplies. A map has been prepared with the assistance of members of the Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club, who have been cooperating with the Government plane in voluntary flood relief work. ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS THE PROVISION OF FODDER (Per United Press Association) HASTINGS, May 4. The provision of fodder for stock, their removal and subsequent grazing care of stock from areas stricken by the flood were matters to receive the attention of the Hawke's Bay branch of the Farmers' Union at a special meeting held in Hastings this momin/s-

The meeting fully discussed ways and means of lending assistance to those settlers whose properties have been severely damaged, especially in the Esk Valley and neighbouring district. The outcome of the meeting was that a committee of all present was formed, and immediately steps are to be taken to make contact if possible, with the affected settlers in an endeavour to arrange for the care of their stock. .The Farmers' Union made a donation of £25 to the national fund. Further heavy rain fell last night and this morning the rivers had again risen, but not to an alarming state. RELIEF PROPOSALS VISIT BY MINISTER (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 4 The Minister of Labour (Mr H. T. Armstrong) will leave Wellington by car to-morrow morning to meet members of the Hawke's Bay Flood Damage Committee and the Eskdale settlers at Eskdale to-morrow afternoon. He will discuss with the committee proposals that have been submitted for granting immediate relief both to the farmers and the townspeople affected by the floods. The Minister said this evening that he imagined one of the first things it would be necessary to consider so far as farm land was concerned was the grassing or regressing of the land. As it was now late in autumn, if that were not done immediately, it seemed that the work would have to wait over until the spring. A large proportion of the wage costs in any remedial work would come from the funds under his control. The Minister will probably spene several days in the Hawke's Bay district