FLOOD RELIEF

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23205, 19 May 1945, Page 4

FLOOD RELIEF

Farmers Discuss Source

Pool Account Earmarked

A notice of motion by the Waimate branch to rescind portion of a remit from Temuka referring to pool accounts being used to compensate farmers for their losses due to flood damage was carried at a meeting of the South Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday.

Mr W. J. Fletcher (Waimate) said that Waimate was one with Temuka in seeking relief for flood damage, but the money in the Meat Pool was the property of the meat producers. Mr Grigg had stated that the funds of the Pool would be zealously guarded by the Meat Board. Money for flood relief should not come from any pool accounts, which existed for specific purposes, but from a national fund. Further, the relief should be in the nature of a straightforward grant. In opposing the amendment, Mr J. Woodhead (Temuka) said that a grant of £3B had been made to farmers who had had their furniture damaged, and a living allowance had been made to farmers on small holdings who had reasonably large families. Even the payment of interest on loans was poor compensation for the damage suffered. Mr Woodhead said he would like to know the motive behind Waimate’s amendment. When the Temuka remit had been moved in the first instance, Mr J. Macaulay had said that Temuka was agreeable to a £1,000,000 being set aside for the purchase of freezing works, if necessary. Did Waimate members, who were meat producers, expect a hand-out from the pool? Temuka’s opinion was that in view of the fact that production in Europe had been paralysed by the war, that flood damage should be repaired as speedily as possible so as to maintain production, and possibly increase it. What had been done to compensate for loss in the Temuka area was in some measure due to the representations of Mr Jack Acland. M.P. Had not the Meat Board sanctioned the use of £400.000 from the pool to subsidise the butchers of New Zealand? asked Mr J. Macaulay. Yet some members said that the pool could not be used for the repair of flood damage suffered by farmers. Mr J. V. Wilson said that they were getting away from the point. It would be difficult enough to get relief without nominating where the money was to be taken from. The Government would decide that, but in the meantime let the executive press for immediate relief.