RELIEF AFTER DROUGHT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 4

RELIEF AFTER DROUGHT

PURCHASES OF FODDER

SUBSIDY SCHEME ANNOUNCED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 8. Further assistance to farmers affected by drought was announced today by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. B. Roberts). This assistance is being granted to drought-affected farmers, wno purchased hay and other fodder crops between February 1, 1946, and March 4,1946, when the price order was gazetted. The Government has now decided to grant assistance retrospectively-to February 1, 1946, under certain conditions. Applications by farmers, merchants, dairy companies, and other organisations should be made to the Secretary of the Treasury, Wellington. For the purpose of assessment, current ceiling prices for hay and chaff are deemed to have operated from February 1, 1946, instead of March 4.. 1946. Ail fodder purchased at prices above the ceiling price will receive, the full Government transport subsidy, being all transport costs over 10s- a ton. On the. other hand, farmera who were able to obtain- supplies of fodder crops before March .4 at prices below the ceiling prices will not receive the full transport subsidy as the difference between the price actually paid and the current ceiling price levels will be deducted frbm the transport subsidy ot All'appli?a§bils e 'for assistance, whether for the, scheme originally announced On March' w under the retrospective baste; must be supported bv docqmwtary evidence covering the whole transaction.and must show the payment pf th£ amount being claimed as well as the «Mual cost of the fodder itself. ' J 'ZtUSSZ t . .. “The Government has given priority to fodder over all other classes of freight, and special fodder ships have been- put on the run to meetthe post-’ tion,” said the Minister. There has been a steady flow of fodder from tne South Island to the drought-affected areas in the North Island, and although shipping has been an acute problem, tending to restrict supplies, the Government has made every endeavour to overcome this difficulty.”