EARTHQUAKE FUND

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 14

EARTHQUAKE FUND

BALANCE OR £176,000 DECISIONS BY COMMITTEE ' POLICY MATTEES Various matters of policy in conneo* tion with the administration of the Hawkes Bay Earthquake, Belief Fund were considered at a meeting of the sub-committee of the Central Committee of tho Fund recently. Reviewing the work of the meeting,the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon. G. W. Forbes) stated to-day that the committee confirmed the existing arrangement whereby in tho meantime all assistance for the rehabilitation of houses affected by the earthquake is by way of loan without interest, repayablo by monthly instalments over a period not exceeding twelve months. Financial assistance of this naturo was also extended by, the committee to those persons who have paid for their own repairs, and To persons who were tradesmen and carried out their own work. In view of the fact that it had not yet been possible to-ascertain the. total amount of claims against the fund, no free grants can yet be'made, but at a later date when all claims are definitely known a scheme of distribution of tho funds will be settled. In order that there may be no delay in this directioa and that a distribution of the funds may be expedited, it lias been, decided, to make a public notification that all claims for assistance must be submitted by the 31st July, 1931, after which date they cannot be considered. CLOSING OF CAMPS. All necessary personal assistance required, by earthquake sufferers is being afforded out of the relief funds. In addition, the rehabilitation of the residential area is proceeding at a very satisfactory rate, and as a result of the efforts .of the local committees tho repatriation of residents has been practically completed for some considerabla time. At present there are only twenty persons resident in the relief camp1 at Nelson Park, and arrangements are being made for an early closing of this camp.. All other camps have been closed for a considerable period.

CENTRALISATION OP MONEYS. , It was reported to the committes that there are many earthquake relief funds still held throughout the country and not under the control of the Central Committee. Some of these funds are not earning any interest, whilst in some cases there will be no further, earthquake relief needed in places where the funds are held. It was considered highly undesirable to have so many different funds outside the control of the central fund, and it was therefore decided to request those in chaTge of such funds to pay over any unexpended balances ..to the credit of the central fund, where they, will immediately earn interest at 5i per cent. • and be under direct control of the Central Committee. In the event of failure to comply with this request, it is proposed to bring down regulations requiring payment of such funds to i the central fund. STATE OF THE FUND. A report on the financial position ot the fund showed the vgross receipts, including interest, to be £376,236; whilst the payments and commitments against the fund amount to considerably over £200,000. This latter sum does not include the whole of the claims which are now being invited for assistance to owners who have paid for^or completed1 their own. repairs. Further, it i* known that in many cases persons requiring assistance cither for the restoration of houses or to compensate them for personal losses have no.t yet made application, and it is certain that the claims -still to be received will amount to a very large sunl, and that the whole of the, amount in hand will bo required to meet the heavy demands likely to be made on'the fund. In this connection it will also°be necessary, as soon as it is possible to do so, to consider tho '• question of setting1 aside ,a sufficient sum to make provision, in cases of necessity, for those permanently injured and for the dependants of those killed or injured as a result of the disaster. In the meantime any relief required by such persons is beingafforded.

In conclusion, Mr. Forbes stated that tho carrying out of the relief work and the principles being followed in regard thereto had given'entire satisfaction to the members of the local committees, who were representative members of the community. It was pleasing to be able to sa.y that there had been almost an entire absence of complaint in connection with the administration, of the fund.