Bill to ensure flood relief

Press, 17 November 1980, Page 31

Bill to ensure flood relief

PA Wellington A private bill designed to allow residual flood relief funds to be released to Kelso flood victims has been introduced in Parliament by the Minister of Tourism (Mr Cooper),.- who is the member for Central Otago.

The Otago-South lan d Flood Relief Committee Empowering Act will, .when .passed, allow 1978 flood disaster relief funds still held, about $170,000. to be used for victims of the disastrous flood which occurred in January this year. '' .The. Act will discharge the previous trustee committee, comprising the local-body officers of the area who held office at October, 1978, and appoint new trustees. ■These trustees are empowered to settle the few claims from the 1978 flood and then provide relief for’ those people who; have suffered loss or damage in recurring. flooding.. '■• -. • The Otago-Southland Flood' Relief Fund, which included national donations from individuals and organisations, was met by a dollar-for-dollar subsidy by the Government. “It was felt by Government that this bill provides a legal solution to help overcome the difficulties of residents whose home's have been wrecked,” said Mr Cooper.

“1 believe that those people who gave so gener-ously-in 1978 will be sympathetic to this formal recognition of the Kelso residents’ plight,” he said. Mr Cooper said he was taking whatever steps possible to ensure the early enactment of the bill before the end of this Parliamentary session.