U.S.A. DROUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1930, Page 6

U.S.A. DROUGHT

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph.—Copyright.]

WASHINGTON. Aug. 15

While no public criticism has been voiced, some of the State Governors attending the recent meeting with President Hoover continue privately to express their disappointment that Federal Funds have not been provided in connection ■ (with the contemplated drought relief programme, which places the responsibility upon the States.

Governor Leslie,:, of Indiana, suggests that his Stat'd be permitted to borrow one million dollars from the Reserve Banks at .two per cent., to be matched by a similar fund made available from road building appropriations.

Mr Hyde stated the Department of Agriculture would go as far as the law permits in assisting through the allocation of road building funds. The Agriculture Department’s reports indicate that eighty thousand farm families in Arkansas are unable to obtain feed for their livestock. Similar reports have been received from nine other States, which have' brought the estimate to 270 thousand families that have been severely stricken by the drought, and many of them are facing actual want of food.

Mr G. L. Niven, a prominent statistician, lias estimated that the consumers in the States of Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi will pay sixty millions dollars during the autumn and winter, and that the farmers there will have a crop loss of 160 million dollars, and he adds that "thes” estimates are conservative.”

RAIN EXTENDING

NET' YORK. August 16

WiV- ■> rainfall liecoming general over the United States, the Weather Bureau forecasts further rain through the drought areas.

BIG RELIEF VOTES

FURTHER RAIN

WASHINGTON, August 16

The Federal Government took its first major step in carrying out the drought relief programme when Mr Hyde authorised the immediate apportionment of 121.875.000 dollars for highway improvement, enabling the States to provide employment for the . farmers who are left destitute. Under the law, the States must appropriate ail equal'sum for the same purpose. One of the greatest problems facing the Department of Agriculture is the transfer of live hundred thousand cattle and two million sheep from the blighted plains of Montana to feeding pens in nearby States. Messrs Hyde and Leggo are spending the week-end at. President Hoover’s mountain camp to consider the problem. The Farm Board is meantime preparing to advance five million dollars to tile National Live Stock Marketing Association for the purposes of beginning the Montana transferral. The weather bureau has predicted further showers in the drought areas. Heavy rains fell throughout the Connecticut Valley to-day. However, there is one million dollars damage to the various crops there, particularly tobacco.