Help—at last

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 1

Help —at last

Greymouth reporter The Westland County Council will support a young Harihari farmer whose farm was wrecked by flooding last Christmas. The council heard that all avenues of assistance had been blocked for Mr and Mrs D. R. McClunie, who have been trying to get compensation or resettlement assistance from the Earthquake and War Damage Commission. Mr McClunie told the council in seeking “moral and political support” that

his house, outbuildings, and 10 acres of land suffered extensive damage from debris left after five slips and floods. “Our dwelling is now not safe to live in with my wife and two small boys,”, he said. “My wife and boys are renting a dwelling in Harihari.” Mr McClunie said his house was insured for more than $30,000, but there was very little structural damage and the amount he could claim was only several hundred dollars.

Mr McClunie - said he had taken his case to an insurance assessor, his lawyer, and the member of Parliament for -the West Coast (Mr T. K. Burke) but without success.

Cr F. P. Minehan said the situation was ludicrous 1 when it was recalled'that even uninsured people in the Abbotsford slip disaster received full compensation. On the motion of the County Chairman (Mr M. J. Sullivan) it was decided to give the council’s full support.