STRICKEN BY DROUGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 346, 18 August 1930, Page 7

STRICKEN BY DROUGHT

CREDIT FACILITIES ASKED DEVASTATION IN AMERICA WASHINGTON, Aug. 14. At the outset of the conference with President Hoover, the State Governors requested financial credit facilities for the drought-stricken States. Credit, they said, would be the most argent need of the suffering sections. Governor Pollard described the conditions in Virginia as the worst in the history of the State. "Virginia has had her up and downs and her lean years, but never anything like this. It will take live years to recover from the loss.” He added that -t least 5,000,000 dollars would be necessary for farmers’ credits.

A representative of the Governor of Arkansas estimated that at least 100,000 families in his State would need assistance to live through --the winter. Many of these mould have to be furnished with something to eat or go hungry within the next 60 days. He asked for 2,000,000 dollars credits. After conferring with the President for five hours, the Governors and their representatives dined with Mr Hoover at 8 o'clock, and continued ihcir formal discussions until a late hour. Drenching Bains. The weather reports continue to indicate that rains were drenching in many areas, and that inch precipitations were occurring at many points, definitely breaking the drought. Mr A. M. Hyde (Secretary of Agriculture) advised the renewing of summer gardens for the food supply of farmers themselves, but it is generally agreed that the damage already done is irreparable and requires relief as planned Immediately following the conclusion of the conference, President Hoover issued the statement: "While the extent of the damage cannot be determined yet, it is certain that there are at least 250 counties most acutely affected, where some degree of relief must be provided.

"It was the view of the conference that the burden of effective organisation to meet the situation over the winter in the acutely affected counties rests primarily upon the State themselves, supplemented by such co-opera-tion and assistance as may be found necessary on the part of the Federal Government.

"The objective of such relief s to assist over tho winter families who are deprived of the means cf support through the failure of their crops, to prevent unnecessary sacrifices of li\c stock, and to protect public health. This is to be accomplished by replacing loans privately, or, where necessary, with the assistance of the State or national agencies, Red Cross assistance, the employment of assistance, and reduced railway rates.” Weather Bureau Report. Thirteen States w'ere represented at the conference, and the Governors were cheered by the Weather Bureau report placed before them immediately upon the opening of the conference, showing that good rains had fallen generally over the territory from the lower lake regions in Northern Ohio, south to middle Tennessee, and west to Eastern Missouri, the area that was most heavily hit by the drought. While the Governors have co-operated in the formation of various county, State, and national organisations for the administration of President Hoover’s plan of relief, there was considerable informal comment afterwards on the dissatisfaction felt that the credits will be extended only to those sufferers who can offer security. Some of those who attended the conference openly state that the problem was one of extending unsecured credits, particularly where damage was so great that farmers were left without much in the way of resources. “ Kentucky Hard Hit.

Senator Robinson, who - presented the Governor of Kentucky, painted probably the darkest pint re of the situation. His State was the hardest hit of all. "The maize crop is but 10 per cent of the normal, the tobacco crop but 20 per cent, and the hay crop 5 per cent. The pastures throughout the State have been killed beyond repair Even blue grass, which has withstood all drought hitherto, has been killed. There are practically no vegetables, berries, and bush and friut trees, and the water has dried up everywhere. Other States showed much better conditions, but even in the least affected States certain counties were heavily damaged. A 50 per cent reduction in railway rates was certified to-day for .123 counties in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Tennessee.

RELIEF MEASURES LARGE SUMS VOTED Received Aug. 17, 8.9 p-m. WASHINGTON, Aug. 11. The Federal Government took its first major step in carrying out i.s drought relief programme when Mr Hyde authorised the immediate apportionment of 121,870,000 dollars for highway improvement enabling tne States to provide employment for farm era- left destitute- Under the law, the States must appropriate an equal sura for the same purpose. One of the greatest problems facing the Department of Agriculture is tke transfer of 500,000 cattle and 2,000,000 sheep from the blighted plains of Montana to feeding pens in the nearby States,. Messrs Hyde and Legge are spending the week-end at Mr Hoover’s mountain camp-to consider the problem. The Farm Board in the meantime ns preparing to advance 5,000,000 dollars to the National Live Stock Marketing Association for the purposes of beginning the work of transferring stock. The bureau has predicted further showers in the drought areas. Heavy rain fell throughout the Connecticut Valley to-day. However 1,000,000 dollars’ damags has been done to the various crops there, particularly tobacco.