IN THE QUAKE AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 71, 25 March 1931, Page 10

IN THE QUAKE AREA

1000 PER "WEEK

STEPS FOR EARLY RETURN

.Steps for tho repatriation of residents of Hawkes Bay who have left the district since tho earthquake on 3rd February, and other matters relating lo rehabilitation, were discussed at a meeting yesterday of the Central Committee set up to administer the Hawkes Bay Earthquake Relief Fund.

In a statement issued to-day, the chairman of the committee, the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes), said that it had been brought under the committee's notice that practically all dwellings could now be occupied, and that within two weeks sanitary conveniences, temporary or otherwise, would be provided; that some refugees were making no endeavour to return, and were protracting their absence from Napier, and that citizens in other towns were unable to maintain them any longer; and that work could.be found in Napier for all male refugees.

IMMEDIATE STEPS,

"It was therefore felt," said Mr. Forbes, "that some immediate steps should be taken to ensure the early return of the refugees to their homes. Business had been restored at Hastings and Napier. Largo 'numbers of shops have been erected in Olive Square, Napier, and are occupied by retailers. It is obvious that business cannot be conducted and the community restored to its normal condition while large numbers of tho population are absent. In order to ensure the early return of refugees to their homes, the committee has decided that repatriation of them is to bo arranged at the rate of 1000 per week by the following means:—(a) All refugees will be given a specified time, say, seven days, in which they are required to return to their homes; (b) that in those cases where the notice to return is not complied, with, all relief and free transport will be immediately withdrawn; (c) that notification will be made in the Press and by broadcasting stations that all refugees are required to return. In any case, where through sickness or from any other good cause refugees are unable to return, an extension of time will be granted on application to the local committees concerned. However, in view of the period which has elapsed sinco tho earthquake, it is considered that the cases in which an extension of time is necessary are not likely to be very numerous.

"The Central Committee is now in communication with the local committees in Hawkes Bay," said Mr. Forbes, "with a view to formulating tho necessary scheme to enable the above directions to bo carried into effect. The Prime Minister therefore urges all refugees to make immediate arrangements to return to their homes."

DAMAGED HOUSES,

As has previously been announced, the committee had already given authority for the erection of one chimney and for the making of houses habitable. Good progress has been made at Hastings and Napier; but in the latter town only about 700 or 800 applications have been made to tho Public Works Department for dwellings to'bo repaired.

Mr. Forbes said that the Public Works Department was prepared to do essential repairs on application being made, and in those ensos whore tho owner could not pay for tho work, on completion of the work the amount would be paid out of tho relief funds and subsequently recovered from owners. Should it be necessary for owners to be given time for payment, arrangements would be made for the cost to be refunded by instalments over a period of, say, six months, or by some other method. In certain parts of Napier South, where the sewerage drains were damaged, a temporary sanitary service was being installed.

EXPEDITING WORK,

In view of the approaching winter, said the Prime Minister, the committee was anxious to have the work completed as early as possible, and to this end had issued instructions to local committees to take all necessaiy steps to have the work expedited. It must be pointed out, however, that the owner's consent was required before the work on any particular house could be commenced. Owners were therefore again urged to make early application to the committee in their district in order that the necessary authority might be obtained.

The committee had also given instructions for consideration of urgent eases whero work additional to that mentioned above was required. Special attention was also being given to the restoration of houses in the country districts. The necessary arrangements were being made for the engagement of additional labour to enable the committee's instructions to be carried into effect.

KAIL TRANSPORT.

Statements have been made from time to time that the cost of transport of refugees by rail has been paid out of the relief fund. The Prime Minister advises that this is quite incorrect, no payment whatever having been made out of, the relief fund to the Eailway Department. The Prime Minister has decided that the accounts recording the relief transactions of all institutions, local bodies, other organisations, and private persons receiving and disbursing relief funds will be audited by the Government Audit Office. The authority necessary to enable this to be done is being provided in the emergency earthquake legislation to be presented at the present session of Parliament.

GRANTING- OF RELIEF,

The- committee) has decided-that in future the question of investigating individual applications for relief in the nature of food, clothing, etc., will be dealt- with by the hospital and charitable aid boards. All claims will be investigated by those bodies, and relief will be granted only in those cases wherever it is considered proper to do so. A refund will be made to the hospital and charitable aid boards of the cost of all relief granted to persons in need as a result of the earthquake.