HEAVY LOSS FROM DROUGHT

Chronicle (Levin), 9 March 1946, Page 2

HEAVY LOSS FROM DROUGHT

-Press Association

northern dairy farmers seek grant

Bv Telearavh-

WHANGAREI, March 8. Every dairy company in N.orth Auckland was represented at a special nieeting of the Northland Dairy Association held at Whangarei ycsterday to discuss the steps that sliould be taken to combat" the drastic etl'ects of the drought. Stating that the loss to suppliers, as a result of the drought was £1.12,829, while the losS of revenue to the company vvas placed at £125,935, the ciiairman' of directors of the Whangarei Dairy Company suggested that to assist suppliers a grant should be made by ttie Government to the dairy companies, which, in tuni, would dis.tribute amoug their suppliers au amount in actual cash equivalent to the sum received by them individually last season. The real ^olutiou of the problem would be' a grant from the War Damage lnsurance Account or from some other source. Afr.S. W. Smith, the member for the Bay of Islands, said that iu the comiug inonths many farmers would -be without money or food. It appeared that they would have no mouey at all for six months. The. coyfcreuee adopted tlie following resolution and appointed a deputa ti on to plaee it before the Priine Minister (Mr. Fi-aser), the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) and the Minister of Finance (Mr. Nash), tlie Dairy Board being asked to send representatives to support the deputation. "In view of the grave position confronting the dairy industry in NorthYaiid ttils* eoiif efehce ' urges ' that the following steps be taken immediately and that the association set up'a committee to bring to the notice of Cabinet through the Dairy Board, the following poiuts: — " (1) The urgent neeessity for immediate supplies of todder and pig food to preveut excessive stoelv k.sses through starvatiou. "(2) The neeessity for Compensation for the loss of output to the farming coinmunity caused by thq catast.rophic drought conditions experienced this season, this compensation to be based On the 1944-45 season 's output, liaving regard to tlie guarMiteed price formula ai d to include au udequate allowauee for increaned costs owing to thc neeessity to make provisicm for extra fodder. "(3) That the present Aferliliser ration for eropping be increased to not less tinui 3cwt. an acre. "(4) That deliverios of tlie fertiliser ration for the present season be expedited. "{'•>) That the basis for paymeut to returned servicemen from this War sliould be on estimated receipts submitted to thc Land Bales Court or allernalively the average production of a covv on similar country during normal years. ' '