1918 BUSH FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 132, 1 December 1938, Page 11

1918 BUSH FIRE

RELIEF ASSOCIATION

AFFAIRS FINALLY WOUND UP

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

'.. RAETIHI/This Day

The Waimarino Fire Relief Association has wound up its affairs and has handed £800 worth of assets in cash and property to the Government's general purpose relief account. The association came ihto existence following the disastrous bush fire of 1918, when it became necessary to administer large funds of money raised to assist in the rehabilitation of those who suffered losses.

The general public of the Dominion ! responded handsomely to an appeal i with the result that over: £ 17,000 was i,received> This sum was augmented by ! a grant of £10,000 from the Government. ; ■ -

It is disclosed that cash grants made by the association; to those requiring financial assistance .amounted to £21,968. Finance in the form of loans amounted to £6170. Besides receiving cash from this source, farmers in the district shared in a repayable grant of £75,000 made available by the Government of the day.

It is interesting to note that from the repayment of loan money the association, with Parliamentary approval, helped the sufferers of the Murchison earthquake disaster -fo 4he extent of £5200. . .--.

At the 'final meeting the chairman (Mr. W. H. Sandford) expressed the thanks of the association for the assistance rendered by. the many, including departmental officials, and the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstorie), who had assisted in the smooth functioning of the association.