DROUGHT IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19093, 27 January 1932, Page 6

DROUGHT IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

MR. BURNETT’S APPEAL TO PRIME MINISTER. INSPECTION BY HON. ADAM HAMILTON. In response to a communication from Mr. T. D. Burnett, M.P. for Temuka, in regard to the increasing severity of the drought conditions in parts of South Canterbury, the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) arranged for the Hon. Adam Hamilton, Postmaster-General, to visit the affected areas. Mr. Hamilton broke his journey at Timaru yesterday on his way north, and, in company with representative men and Farmers’ Union officials, will carry out a tour of inspection to-day In his telegram to the Prime Minster Mr. Burnett suggested that Mr. Hamilton should be asked to break his journey from Invercargill to Wellington, in order that a Cabinet Minister could get first-hand knowledge of the conditions in the affected districts. Halfmeasures would not meet the position. and if the weather did not break within three weeks, chances of winter feed would be gone. Many properties were under security to the Crown, and the resources of the State should be called in to assist. Mr. Burnett concluded by suggesting that a man of determination should be appointed to organise efforts to fight drought conditions and next winter’s unemployment problem. Mr. Forbes replied yesterday as follows:—“The Hon. Mr. Hamilton is on his way north to-day, and I have telegraphed to him at Dunedin to advise you whether he can arrange to break his journey. Kind regards. Geo W. Forbes.”

Mr. Hamilton arrived in Timaru last evening, and will leave by the lata express for the north to-day.