SPENDING RELIEF FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1931, Page 10

SPENDING RELIEF FUNDS

POLICY TO BE PURSUED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, 10th February. Some of the steps to be taken by tho Government to protect tho people of Hawkes Bay until they are again on their feet, and the policy in spending the funds collected were mentioned by tho Prime Minister (the Right Hou. 9. W. Forbes) at Hastings to-day. A conference on tho problems now facing the business people of Hastings, as well as residents generally, was held this afternoon, Mr. Forbes representing the Government. Tho Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata (Minister of Native Affairs), and the Eight Rev. Dr. Bennett (Bishop of Aotearoa) were among others present. Speakers asked for Government assistance in reconditioning the town «nd referred to the payment of the men engaged. Mr.. Forbes said the Central Relief Committee which would meet in Wellington to-morrow would establish branches in the affected areas. The Central Committee's policy in regard to the distribution of funds would bo similar to that adopted in respect of the West Coast earthquake. The first call on funds would be the personal requirements of the people1 in distress. Then would come tho necessity for restoring houses, and next the restoration of business activity. It was a big task to restore the commerce of two towns so badly broken as Napier and Hastings, but the Government intended to do its very utmost to assist. Tho question of local versus Government control would be fully investigated by Cabinet, "and a decision given later. As. for the question or employment of labour by outside contractors, they would bo debarred from using outsido labour except in so far as they might have to import specially skilled workers. Cabinet would meet and discuss the whole matter as early as possible. ' Sir Andrew Russell mentioned/ the problems of the farmers affected by the earthquake, and said that though their position was not a matter of life and death, many of them had suffered material damage and required financial assistance. * Mr. Forbes assured him that the claims of town-ana country would be considered on their merits; Ho also assured the meeting that the town would be protected from any incursion from outsiders seeking to establish businesses, and whatever goods had already been bought by relief committees, for the immediate relief of distress would be paid for out of the funds. When Mr. Forbes announced that the Government Fire Insurance Office would pay out fire policies on buildings which had been destroyed by the fire following the earthquake, he said that earthquake was a risk which must be taken by people in New Zealand, and they were going to lay down a set of building regulations to cover tho whole of the Dominion. It would be the Government's duty to see that buildings were built to stand earthquake. They could not talc a risk of any more disasters such as had just been experienced. He hoped other insurance institutions would follow the Government's lead in waiving their rights under tho fire policies on buildings destroyed by the earthquake and the subsequent fire." - • Mr. Forbes also stated that special consideration would be given to sufferers in connection with the payment of income tax. 4