RELIEF DISTRIBUTION

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 149, 28 June 1929, Page 11

RELIEF DISTRIBUTION

THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

HOW THE SCHEME WILL WORK

Arrangements, for distributing relief in the earthquake areas were considered this morning at a meeting of the central organisation controlling the relief! funds. The Prime Minister (the Bight Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) presided, and, in addition to the heads of. various Government Departments, there were also present the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. G. A. Trbup), the' Leader of the Opposition (the Bight Hon. J. G. Coates), the Minister of Education (the Hori. H. Atmore), and Messrs. H. E. Holland and J. O'Brien, M.P.'s. The Prime Minister stated subsequently that it : was resolved that there should be one central organisation with executive powers, and the ■ Mayors of the! four main centres would be members. The members of Parliament from the distriots affected by the earthquake would also be on the committee, as well as the Public Trustee, the Controller and Auditor General; the Secretary of the Treasury, the Under-Secre-tary of Public Works, and the Undersecretary of. Lands. Five would be a quorum. Sir Joseph said that,' apart from the central organisation, there would be district committees in each of the electorates where the earthquake had occurred. The district committees would receive all local applications *for relief. or for restoration of buildings damaged by the earthquake, and they would be charged with the 'duty of investigating each case and forwarding applications to the central committee in Wellington. Only the central committee would have power to make financial contributions for the relief of distressed persons, and necessitous cases would receive preference, the idea being that payments would only be made to those who are unable to help themselves. Moneys would be remitted from the central fund in Wellington to the local committees as required. Sir Joseph also stated that it had been decided that some of the refugees would be employed in restoring damaged buildings. Mr. Thompson, of the Public Works Department, had been appointed secretary and treasurer to the committee.