FAMILIES WHOLLY DESTITUTE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18652, 22 August 1930, Page 9

FAMILIES WHOLLY DESTITUTE.

Drought In United States. POVERTY AND SUFFERING. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 21, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 20. A survey of conditions in the drought areas revealed stories of poverty and acute suffering in many families, amounting to actual starvation, as well as numerous acts of charity by neighbours whose crops have been spared. Van Bruen County, in Arkansas, has reported that 150 families are wholly destitute. “The main picture in Arkansas is one of dejection and helplessness. The. crops are burned up and the water supply is exhausted. Farmers are rushing live stock to the market before they die of thirst. Cash is low, and farmers can do little to help themselves.” Farms in Montana are yielding five bushels of wheat per acre. In the Maclai County and in Oklahama, 75 per cent, of the farmers are without stock feed. The banks are able to finance only ten per cent, of the requirements for fall feed and pasture planting. Eastern Dakotas and Minnesota have the best crops for the past four years, and farmers are expecting good profits owing to the higher prices due to the drought.

FINANCE FOR FARMERS. FEDERAL LOAN SYSTEM United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 21, 7.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, August 20. The National Drought Committee met President Hoover at Washington, and decided to call in a banking representative about a plan to utilise the Federal farm loan system to finance needy farms through the winter. Mr Hyde (Minister for Agriculture) refused to designate the exact amount which it may be necessary to advance, but he ventured the opinion that the total will be close dollars.