OFFICIALDOM APATHETIC TO FARMER'S LOSS

Chronicle (Levin), 21 February 1947, Page 3

OFFICIALDOM APATHETIC TO FARMER'S LOSS

Officialdom's attitude to requests for permita for building matcrials to repiace essential buildings on t'arms destroyed by the cyclonic storm of last weck is, aceording to oue farmer in Ihe Rougotoa district, rather apatlietic. Tliis l'anner lost his milking shed of iron, wood and concrete. He applied to ?tho Building Controller at Palmerston North for a permit for some timber and cement to euablc him to replace the structure, but did not reeeivo a eympatlietic hearing. He appealed to the Department of Agriculture officers who inspected the property and tlien called upou Mr. M. H. Oram, M.P. (Manawatu) for liis help. The position is that tliis farmer had 60 cows to milk and without his milking shed has to rely on the assistance of a ueighbour's shed whieii in all the circumstances js not tlie best possible arrangement. Unless assistance to replace the building was forthcoming, it is understood that tliis farmer proposes to drv his cows oft' with a consequeutial loss of production. He points out that he was able to salvage the iron, but no limber of any consequence was recovc'red. Yesterday an approach was made to tlie Minister of Agriculture in the hope thatTie would be successful in obtain ing authority for the issue of the necessary permit. Many other farm buildings suff'ered partieularly iu thc Rangitikei district, including one huge bavn which was demolished and scattered .over five acres of land. With the harvesting of wlieat, tlie need for the restoration of esscutial buildings wouid appear to be most "urgent.