H—44

(/) Crop Insurance A transfer of £1,500 from the Accumulated Fund for the year ended 31st July, 1948, brought the Crop Insurance Reserve Fund to £7,173. Payments from the Fund on account of claims during that year totalled £1,098 6s. 4d. In January, 1949, heavy damage to the crop resulted from a hailstorm, and claims on the Fund for the 1948-49 season will in consequence be considerable. Particulars of claims made by growers over the past four years and other relevant details concerning them are given in the following table :

The Tobacco Board is at present examining the possibility of extending the cropinsurance scheme. (g) Flood Protection During the year under review the question of protecting tobacco lands threatened by flooding of the Motueka Kiver has been considered by the Board in collaboration with the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council, the Treasury, and other interested bodies. In consequence a scheme for protecting the land subject to flooding was submitted to the Government, whose agreement to undertake protection works at an estimated capital cost of approximately £lOO,OOO has been obtained. Property-owners, including tobacco-growers, as well as residents of the Borough of Motueka, will also benefit greatly from the scheme. Costs should therefore be shared by them, and accordingly it has been agreed that the Tobacco Board and the Nelson Catchment Board will jointly contribute £25,000 towards the capital cost. (h) Members op the Tobacco Board The Tobacco Board members at the 31st March, 1949, were : Chairman and Government Representative : Mr. L. J. Schmitt. Representatives of Manufacturers : Messrs. F. A. L. Hunt, T. P. Husheer, and J. G. Lisman. Representatives of Growers : Messrs. F. A. Hamilton, K. J. Newman, R. W. S. Stevens, and M. H. Thorn. Mr. B. J. Fawcett, Director-General of Agriculture represents that Department in an advisory capacity at meetings of the Board. Secretary : Mr. H. L. Wise. Assistant Secretary : Mr. W. A. Clarke. It is with deep regret that the Board records the untimely death of Mr. F. E. J. Jeffcott (Representative of Manufacturers), who lost his life in the air disaster at Waikanae in March, 1949. The vacancy caused bv Mr. Jeffcott's death has since been filled by' Mr. T. F. Varley.

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Harvest. Claims Lodged. Allowed. Poundage Compensated. Amount Paid. Frost. Hail. Flood. £ s. d. lb. lb. lb. 1945 53 41 62,178 1,251 6 5 18,194 11,153 32,831 1946 19 14 16,249 340 2 7 15,943 300 1947 1 1 300 5 0 0 300 1948 .. 33 29 50,494 1,098 6 4 48,494 2,000