NAPIER DEFINITE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 10

NAPIER DEFINITE

PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT

"Had the.Government acted in July, 1932, there would havo been a sum of approximately £250,000 available when the Dannevirke-Eketahuna- earthquifre occurred," said Councillor R. M. Chadwick at a meeting of tho Napier City Council, in reference to a motion that the council affirm the necessity of the Government, adopting some measure of protecting the finances of the people against earthquake.

Councillor M. S. Spcnce stated that the matter had been discussed at a meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in Wellington. Ho urged that the fund shquld be established; that it should be invested outside New Zealand, and that it should not be subject to Government control. "If it is outside the control of the Government, then there will be no fear of the fund being borrowed temporarily, as was the case with the road funds," he said. "I pointed out at the meeting that, whereas there would probably be a few who insured against earthquake, there would be thousands who did not do so. This matter had been supported by the Auckland Chamber of Comiheree, and there is no body more qualified to give evidence than this council," he concluded. ,

Several members spo*ke strongly in favour"of an insurance scheme, remarking that Napier, better.than any other town in tho Dominion, knew what it was talking about.

Tho council gave the motion unanimous support, and will mako written representations to the Government.