COMPENSATION SOUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1926, Page 4

COMPENSATION SOUGHT

LOSS BY GRASS FIRES. ASHBURTON, Feb. 1. In response to a request by the farmers in the affected area, the Hon W. Nosworthv visited Cliertsey and I’endarves this morning, and viewed the damage caused by the grass fire last Friday. Asked by a reporter if tiie Government would assist the settlors in the replacing of their fences, as was done after a similar fire at Ractibi six years ago, Mr Nosworthv said it was a matter for Cabinet, and Cabinet would have to ho satisfied first of all that the origin of the fires lay with the railway engines. A meeting of Cliertsey. Pendarvcs and Scaffold farmers will he held in the Pendarvcs Hall to-morrow evening. when a full discussion will take place on the cause and effect of the tires.

The County Council "ill endeavour to obtain for the sufferers by the fire some measure of relief from the Government.. bolding that the fire wax caused by sparks from railway engines. In the meantime the Council lias asked the Prime Minister to send a responsible officer lo the district to assess the damage as soon as possible.

The chairman of the County Conned (Air W. G. Gallagher) visited the Chertsey-Peiularvos-Seafield district on Saturday, lie stated this morning that to his mind the worst feature of the situation was the fact that, with all the fences burned. the stock were wandering all over the district and there was no feed for them. The out-

look was very serious, as at present it was a difficult matter to buy feed. Even if a start wore to be made immediately with the replacing, of the IciKes it would be months before they would he completed, ns labour was extremely difficult to get. The week-end rain, continued Air Gallagher, had undoubtedly saved the situation for those who had escaped the worst of the flames, as their feed bail been refreshed and would be greatly improved. Blaming (lie railway engines for the start of ihe fines, ATr Gallagher slat*"' that n telegram had been sent to Air Coates asking that an officer of the Government be sent to assess the damage. Representations would also be made to the Government asking for assistance for! the farmers affected, and if necessary a deputation would be sent to interview the.. Prime Minister in AV'ellinglon. Jle considered that spark-arresters would be placed on all railway engines, and travellers should be warned agtftnst throwing cigar and cigarette butts and matt-lies from the carriages. Another direction in which the lire might he minimised would he the provision of patrols by the Department. If a man were to follow each express on a jigger for a certain distance, tho rim being taken up at other stations by other men, any

liras that might start would he detected in their incipient stages, and tlie settlers would then he able to deal with them before they reached dangerous proportions.

“The worst Ilea tore, of the w!i ■' thing.” continued Air Gallagher, “is the death of Mr Page, for whom the "hole comity will mourn as a man who lost his life in giving service to others. All the material damage pa 1 . into insignificance beside the passing of ■such a mail.” The Works Committee of (lie fYninlv Council (Messrs W. G. Gallagficr. !•'. Framptoii and W ,T, I.ill) (bis aflernnn paid a visit to (lie council’s plantation af \\ cstorfield. which was damaged by litv.i last Thursday, to ascertain at first hand the extent of the coiini'il’s loss.