IMMEDIATE HELP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 5

IMMEDIATE HELP.

GRANT FOR NEEDY FARMERS REHABILITATION PLANS. SYDNEY, Jan. 14. The Premier (Mr Stevens), in confirming yesterday a promise of a grant of £25,000 for the purchase of seed wheat and fodder, also announced that immediate personal assistance through the Social Services Department would be given to necessitous , wheat farmers in tho south-western district. *

In addition, tho Commonwealth Government had been asked to widen the application of its debt adjustment funds so that they could Tie applied for the purpose of rehabilitating essential farm assets and improvements, for acquiring additional land, or for any other purpose necessary to ensure the farmer’s future and remove the causes which contributed to his past failures. The Commonwealth Government had also been asked to permit debts duo to the Rural Bank of New South Wales being dealt with under schemes of debt adjustment. The State Government proposed to introduce legislation authorising the Minister for Lands, for the purposes of debt adjustment under the Farmers’ Relief Act, to waive any unpaid rent or interest in connection with any holding under ainy Act administered by the .Department of Hinds or to waive any .portion of a mortgage debt to the Minister. in connection with any such holding. The appropriate authority would be similarly authorised in connection with holdings and mortgages under the Water Conservation -and Irrigation Commission Act. ' ' • ' , Mr Stevens said that consideration would be given to reducing the rate of interest charged for current assistance from (State funds to 2% per cent, per annum, which was the rate charged for loans front the Federal funds. ’