FLOOD SUFFERERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 86, 8 October 1941, Page 8

FLOOD SUFFERERS

ARRANGE OWN WORK

ASSISTANCE FROM COUNCIL

Arising from the debate by the City Jouncil on Monday night, the City Engineer's office has received endless telephone and personal calls from householders with requests for immediate assistance and for this and that clearing-away job or for walls to be rebuilt. In fact, the corporation cannot undertake such work, for, with its short staff of officers and men, it is hard put to get through essential public work. The council, further, has no legal power to make loans or advances, for it was only on Monday night that it had before it the draft of legislation for submission to Parliament. That people who have suffered from the storm must first help themselves and endeavour to make their own financial arrangements was made clear today when the matter was discussed with the chairman of the works committee, Councillor W. Appleton, and the City Engineer, Mr. K. E. Luke. "There is evidently a good deal of confusion and misunderstanding in the minds of many people," said Councillor Appleton. "The corporation cannot undertake the reinstatement of private properties; its hands are more than full. Private owners must arrange for the carrying out of repairs and reinstatement themselves. BEFORE.BYLAWS WERE PASSED. "One point is important. Of the retaining walls which failed the very great majority—possibly all—were those built before the passing of a city bylaw requiring all walls to be ; built to approved plans and under building permit. If new walls are to be erected they must be in accordance with plans submitted to and.approved by the City Engineer's Department, Mercer Street. This applies to all walls. "The council's proposal to assist owners in financing repairs is subject to obtaining legislative authority," said Councillor Appleton. "We have no •*- powers at the moment, and in any event such assistance will be given only in cases where owners have difficulty in obtaining the necessary finan-

cial assistance from their existing mortgagees. Those who need assistance must therefore endeavour to arrange finance first through their mortgages.

"Moreover, the council can, if it obtains legislative authority, give assistance by loan or advance only in the most difficult cases; all cases will be decided according to their merits after full investigation by the council's officers."