HAILSTORM LOSSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 559, 11 January 1929, Page 16

HAILSTORM LOSSES

RELIEF FOR FARMERS SUGGESTED DEPARTMENTAL INSPECTION Press Association OAMARU, Thursday. State relief is suggested for farmers who suffered severe losses through the hailstorm which swept the Enfield district on Monday. A visit to Enfield to view the damage was paid to-day by Mr. R. B. Tennant, of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. J. Mee, of the Crown Lands Department. Dunedin, and Mr. J. A. MacPherson, M.P. for Oamuru. Although their investigation was ' hampered by the weather both the departmental officers were convinced, j from a cursory examination -of the crops laid waste, that the visitation | had been of an extremely intense, I nature, and that the severity of the I loss suffered warranted the fullest inj vestigation on their part, i Mr. Tennant frankly admited that at first he had thought the reports had been exaggerated, but now he found it was not so, and that the position as far as the farmers affected were concerned was indeed serious. He said one phase of the investigation would entail a personal visit to each farm in the stricken area, which is 30 miles in length and eight to ten miles in width. In order to facilitate the work arrangements were being made for two other departmental officers from Dunedin to assist. The position warranted a thorough examination of the damage suffered with a view to affording relief where possible. Mr. Mee said he also was astounded at the severity of the losses and would co-operate with the other departmental officer. He, too, had at first imagined the reports to have been over-stated, but an examination now showed there had been no exaggeration.