HAILSTORM RELIEF

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 56, 8 April 1929, Page 7

HAILSTORM RELIEF

Per Press Association.

GOVERNMENT LOANS TO BE A1ADE. SIR JOSEPH WARD' S STATEMENT.

WELLINGTON, This day. The decision of the Government to authoTise advances np to a total of £5000 to the produeers in the Hawke's Bay and Oamaru districts who suffered damage from the liailstorms some time ngo was announced to-day hy Sir Jcseph Ward, who said that he wislied to malce it quite clear that loans and not grants were autliorised. TTie money would he available only in cases of unusual hardship, where it was absolutely necessary that assistance should be given. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that tho Government could not make general provision for the destruction of crops, etc., by liailstorms and otber acts of God, therefore an inquiry would be made into tbe case of each applicant for relief, and where assistance was deemed to be a matter of necessity, advances would be made at a reasonable rate of interest. One's sympathy naturallv went out to the people who suffered as a result of such unexpected. happenings, but the issue would he a very hig oue if the Government commonced making general provision for the destruction of property. Steps should be taken beforehand by "those likely to be affected by unforeseen occurrences to protect themselves in the event of such misfortunes.