DAMAGE DONE BY DISASTERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 49, 7 December 1948, Page 2

DAMAGE DONE BY DISASTERS

Mr Nash Questioned About Insurance WHO IS TO PAY LEVY? (P.A.) .WELLINGTON, Dee. 6. More questions about the application of the provisions of the. Earthquake and War Damage Act to other disasters have been asked by the Associated Chambers of Commerce. “On whom are taxes or levies to create a fund for other disasters to be imposed?” asked the Secretary of the Associated Chambers (Mr A. O. Heany) to-day. “Are the levies to be voluntary or compulsory. Are they to apply to all movable or immovable property? Are those drawing compensation to be resti’icted to contributors? At what point do personal or local losses become disasters? What limits, if any, are to be observed? Are. proper insurance principles to be followed? How much money does the Government estimate this new fund will require?” Mr Heany also asked if the State intended to provide assistance for the fund and for information about the method of Imposing premium requirements. Much more information than the Acting-Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash) had given was called for, Mr Heany said. The whole scheme should have been the subject of a complete and properly drawn up Bill, accompanied by full explanations, instead of an unexplained clause in a washing-up Bill. But apparently the whole thing was to be worked out and presented as an accomplished fact by means of regulations, according to Mr Nash.

“Explanation Unsatisfactory’”

Mr Heany said the explanation now given by Mr Nash should have properly been produced for the information of Parliament and the people when the Finance Act was before the House of Representatives. If the explanation was given at that time it was not reported in the press “but even now, as an explanation, it is most unsatisfactory, and it does not meet our objections.” Mr Heany said Mr Nash’s explanation seemed to Pe a distinction without a difference. If the Government, did not intend to apply the earthquake fund to other disasters, would Mr Nash explain how the Government proposed to apply the provisions of the act to other disasters? Mr Heany denied that there was any trace of mischief, propaganda, and/or party political bias in the telegram which the chambers sent to Mr Nash last Friday on the subject. Mr Heany said the chambers had publicly raised their voice in protest and in question about a Government matter of considerable public importance.

“Close to Autocracy”

For Mr Nash to say that this was mischievous party political propaganda was not only absurd, but also came close to autocratic dictatorship. Legislation before Parliament was open, or should be open, to the scrutiny of public and interested organisations, and it would be a sorry day when that right was denied. Mr Heany said the chambers of commerce were not, and never had been, party political. Both the Associated Chambers and individual chambers had actively participated in public affairs far earlier than when the* Labour Party came into office and representations were always made regardless of party. “Never in our long history have we ever engaged in less newspaper publicity, yet never have we received such a" sharp rap over the knuckles as now,” he said. “We would remind Mr Nash that, even though to a, severely reduced extent, this is still a free country with freedom of speech, of association, and of the press.”

MR NASH REPLIES

EARLY STATEMENT PROMISED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “The Associated Chambers of Commerce, in a lengthy statement, endeavour to explain their original mistake,” said the Acting-Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash) in reply to Mr Heany. “They would have been much more in accord with the facts had they simply said, 'we were mistaken in attributing the amendment to the earthquake fund, instead of to the Earthquake and War Damage Act. We will await with interest the next step of the Government to apply the provisions of the amendment for compensation in’ cases of disaster occasioned other than by war, earthquake or fire.’ ” Mr Nash added that this procedure was being worked out, and would be announced at an early date.