§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can now inform the House as to the report of the Commissioner sent into Essex; and, whether the Government are prepared to state whether they can offer any material assistance to the farmers who have been ruined by the storm of 24th June?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,for Mr. WALTER LONG) Kent, St. Augustine's,I have now received the report of the inspector who was commissioned to inquire into the effects of the recent storm in Essex. He expresses the opinion that the descriptions of the calamity which have appeared in the local newspapers are not overdrawn, and, indeed, that it would be difficult to overstate the damage done or the distress caused. Competent observers have stated that the loss would not be covered by £200,000, and there are many persons who have lost their all who would be saved from want by a little help quickly and judiciously given. I do not think that the Government could safely intervene even in the most unfortunate circumstances of this particular case, but there can be no doubt that the appeal for assistance now being made under the auspices of the Lord Lieutenant of the County is deserving of a very liberal measure of support.