FLOOD DAMAGE

Southland Times, Issue 18962, 8 June 1923, Page 5

FLOOD DAMAGE

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE URGED. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 7. Reference to the recent heavy floods experienced in North Canterbury was made by Mr W. W. Mulholland, in his presidential address at the annual provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union (North Canterbury district), to-day. He expressed the opinion that the Government should assist farmers, who had suffered losses. Mr Mulholland said in a number of districts the benefits of the good season were almost, and in some cases, totally swept away by the disastrous floods early last month. In some cases, men had to face financial ruin in consequence. “I think it would be a great pity if they are allowed to leave their farms, without an effort being made to assist them. Your executive has instituted inquiries and so far as replies have been received, it would seem that a number of those who have suffered various losses, is not so large as might have been expected, and I think it is clearly the duty of the Government to come to their assistance. Speaking generally the good that will result from the thorough soaking of the soil right at the beginning of winter, and the wholesale destruction of insect and animal pests, will far outweigh the damage done, but the unfortunate part of it is, that the loss has been largely borne by a comparative few.”