The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1913. THE SOUTHERN FLOODS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 284, 31 March 1913, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1913. THE SOUTHERN FLOODS.

The news that we publish to-day of the Hoods in Canterbury, Otago and .Southland shows tliat the visitation has assumed the proportions of a national disaster, calling for national relief measures. Exceptionally heavy losses have been suffered in the Gore and Mataura districts, where it is estimated that the damage inflicted reaches a money value of over £200,000. Much of this loss doubtless falls upon settlers, to whom it will spell ruin unless generous relief is extended. Many valuable crops have been destroyed, and thousands of bead of cattle have been swept away by the devastating waters.' The tradespeople whose premises have been flooded are also heavy losers, and their claims are deserving of consideration. If it were thought desirable to start public relief funds, we are sure there would be a liberal response, and Taranaki settlers, who never suffer from floods, would be among the first to help their less fortunate brethren. Tn a disaster of this magnitude, however, we consider the proper course is for the Government to afford relief to the sufferers. State action was taken some seventeen years ago to relieve southern settlers who sustained heavy losses of stock by a severe snow-storm, and was generally approved of. Tt is efcar that the Government is in a better position to administer relief in such cases than any private committee could be. It can ob-, tain accurate and unbiassed reports of losses from its officials, and apportion the funds with absolute justice. The State method of relief also ensures that, every person in the community contributes a fair proportion, instead of the whole burden falling upon chose who are most sympathetic and benevolently disposed. It is therefore to he hoped that the Prime Minister will at once order official reports to be obtained of the losses suffered by settlers and others, and will cause necessary relief to be administered, confident that Parliament will cheerfully and unanimously endorse such action. The damage done to State property bv the floods is no doubt considerable. but that fact must not be made a pretext for overlooking the claims of private sufferers. Tt is matter for congratulation that there has been practically no loss of human life—only one death, so far, being recorder - -nd, as the floods are subsiding, no further damage need be feared; but it is evident that hundreds of people have been placed in grave danger in Southland, and have endured much hardship. There, is reason for thankfulness that the occurrence took place at a mild season of the year, else we might have had to record deaths from cold and exposure, such as took place in America last week. Thus amidst the calamity are gleams of eonv fort, and tliere is further ground for congratulation in the fact that Xew Zealand as a whole is but rarely subjected to such visitations.