DROUGHT LOSSES SEVERE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18650, 20 August 1930, Page 9

DROUGHT LOSSES SEVERE.

Position In United States. DEMANDS FOR FEDERAL AID. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrignt August 19, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 18. President Hoover and Mr Hyde (Secretary for Agriculture) are confronted with further demands for Federal aid, as stricken farmers continue to organise for a relief programme. Ex-Governor Byrd appealed for relief in Virginia, stating that the damages to his State amount to 100,000,000 dollars, partly due to the loss of 800,000 tons of hay and 35,000,000 bushels of maize. Mr Hyde published a list of 173 additional counties in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Virginia and Ohio, where there were emergency demands. Mr Byrd stated that one of the most serious aspects of the situation lay in the fact that relief for farmers, without credit facilities, will have to await legislation, and Congress will not be In session until December.

TA message received on Sunday stated: “The Federal Government took its first major step, in carrying out its drought relief programme, when Mr Hyde authorised the immediate apportionments of 121.875,000 dollars for high improvement, thus enabling the States to provide employment for farmers left destitute. Under the law, the States must appropriate an equal sum for the same purpose. One of the greatest problems facing the Department of Agriculture is the transfer of 500,000 cattle and 2,000.000 sheep from the blighted plains of Montana to feeding pens in nearby States.]