GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 31

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

STATEMENT BY S[R J. G. WARD. AUCKLAND. February 23. j The Prime Minisiei b/>s made the followins important statement, for general publication: — I In connect. on with the disaster by fire to mimv settlers, which I regard as a national calamity, the Government will supply gras* peed to all those who have suffered, whether they be Crown sett'lcie or those who occupy ! I.heir own freehold or leasehold lands. As promptiUide is absolutely necessary to enable those who ha\o suffered to sow other grays seed, it will be supplied to all settlers affected on app'tcaliou being: made by them. The nras>s <-eed will bf> supplied at co c t price and free of interest for a period up tf> four years. This will enable all necessitous cases to be dealt with upon very easy term-. ]n cases where it can be shown that settle! s | are absolutely mined or are unable to pay ! tho Got eminent will consider each ca^e I upon its rn»rits. As to whether the grata ' seed should be supplied fiee, I am quite ' ceitain that tlm» majority of our settlers prefei to have ihe opportunity of recovering their positions in this way and, as I saw all 'esses of exceptional hardship, where theso ' f-ettlcr 3 themselves aro burned out. of [ bouses and homes and ruined, will bo ' <_oii<-idered upon their merits. In addition, instructions have been eriten to the Railway 1 Department to carry all material, whether ' for building purposes or for fencing. 1o those who have lo;t their homes, oui houses, or fences free of charge. Further, wherever Crown lands are atailable and are not under lease to tenants, those sufforinir will be allowed to turn their stock upon such ! Jande free of charge. In the case of tho&e i who are not settlcis, such as those working upon roads, who may hate lost their homes, , their huts, tools, or buildings, the Governj merit will convoy all material and tools i f>ee to them by rail, and in absolutely j necessitous ca«es will consider their position upon full details being furnished by I them. Officers of the Lands Department have been instructed to supply reports ol loss in each case to the Minister of Lands, ' as was done in the case of flood damage* Thi6 is necessary, as, of course, the Government, in the interests of the country as «. | w hole, must protect itself from imposition* , that sometimes in cases of the kind da arise. Arrangements for inspectioa of farmf will be made immediately upon application ,by tho*e affected to the land board. Thq Government recognises that the matter \i one calling for practical assistance, and ! desires to help in every wav possible. 1 desire to express the hop© that the holder* of grass seed, while naturally securing a. fair profit, should not at this juncture, which is a calamitous ono to man> of thcii< j best customer*, unduly raise the price of grass seed. It is the fear of that possibility that has decided the Government to supnltf the grass seed to the farmers at, oost pri^fl' for a period of years free of interest. If | the Government were to come into their i market by becoming the immediate T)UrI chasers of large quantities of grass seed, it' is not unnatural to suppose that the price would go beyond what might fairly be re* garded as a reasonable one. I feel eur< holders of grass seed will' not regard thi< suggestion as other than one made in th< best interests of those who are unfortunate sufferere. and with a desire to seek theii

co-operation in helping to meet a dire calamity to those immediately affected. I sineer-elv trust the\ will accept the advice in the spirit in which it is tendered to them. — J.G. Ward.