’QUAKE RELIEF FUND

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1929, Page 7

’QUAKE RELIEF FUND

FOUR CITIES’ CONTRIBUTIONS DOMINION TOTAL £125,000 (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 2. A meeting of the Wellington Committee for Earthquake Relief was held to-day. The Mayor (Mr. G. H. Troup), who presided, said up to the present £19,740/5/1 had been paid into the Mayor’s Fund direct. In addition to that, there was £2,333/13/2 from the Post and £1,455/11/- from the Dominion (which had also gone through the Mayor’s Fund), making a total of £22,529/9/3.

Again in addition to that sum, a further £2OO had been paid direct to the Central Fund by Wellington houses and individuals so that Wellington should be credited with £24,529. As there were still a number of small lists out, amongst them Hutt and Petone, he took it that £25,000 would be raised, which he thought was a very fine contribution. Expenses against this amounted to £26/15/6. The amount of £22,529 had been paid into the Treasury, and the Treasurer had expressed his appreciation at Wellington’s prompt action, which had seemed to establish a feeling of confidence throughout New Zealand. Comparisons were sometimes helpful, sometimes odious, but the Mayor thought it would be interesting for members of the Committee to knew whether Wellington had held its own in the recent emergency. In Auckland the Mayor’s Fund had amounted to £12,268/16/5, the Herald list to £9557/15/ 11 and the Star’s to £2,624/11/3, which roughly meant £25,000, the same as Wellington. In Christchurch, the Mayor’s fund had reached £9,963/2/8, and that of the Press £4,477/15/5. So that about £15,000 could be expected there. In Dunedin the Mayor’s list was at the latest £2,084, but the Otago Daily Times had £6,221 on its list, and the Star £484, so that £lO,000 would be about Dunedin’s quota. This made a grand total of £75,000 from the four centres. He thought that in addition, they could reckon on £45,000 from the other cities and smaller towns, which would give a total of £125,000. Mr. Wallace proposed that there should be established something in the nature of a national emergency fund so. that anything over from this fund, or any other fund of a like nature, could be paid into the National Fund, and invested by the Public Trustee. He thought the Central Committee might consider the proposal, and he moved in that direction. Mr. W. G. Wilson seconded the motion.

Mr. John Myers said he had in mind something in the nature of the crea« tion of a national insurance fund against earthquake disaster. The accumulation of a fund (he mentioned £5,000,000), which would be available to reinstate any district suffering from earthquakes. The Chairman said that such a scheme could only be brought about by compulsory contribution. Mr. Wallace said that was not his ideal at all. He only meant that the surplus funds left over, when all claims had been settled, might be put into one fund that would be kept as a standby for the next calamity—be it fire, flood, or earthquake. The motion was carried.

A DOUBTFUL “BENEFIT” The Mayor presented a list of those entertainments •which had been given in aid of the Earthquake Relief Fund, most of which had, at 1 his request furnished a balance sheet. The Mayor gave particulars of the balance sheets of each entertainment, and said there was only one case where the balance sheet was not satisfactory, that was the case of a Jazz given at the Town Hall (which was given free for the purpose). In that case the result had been a donation of £4O/3/6 of which the receipts were £125/14/2, £95/9/5 of which was taken at the door.

For this dance, seventeen musicians at £l/10/- each had been employed, according to the balance sheets, and £93 add had been retained to meet claims for lost coats, and hats, and the organiser had put in £lO/10/- for his services. There was £5 drawn for the services of those looking after the cloak room, and other charges, but there was £4O/3/6 for the fund out of the £125/14/2 taken. He had the people responsible “on the mat” and had given them a hot quarter of an hour, but further than telling them what he thought of them he was unable to do anything. Members of the Committee expressed themselves as surprised and disgusted that some people should use such an object to make money. Mr. W. S. Wilson remarked on the continued appearance of earthquake photographs in the illustrated papers. “These go to all parts of the world,” said Mr. Wilson, “and it is no wonder that there are distorted views of the calamity in the newspapers abroad. I think those photographs are most damaging to the afflicted districts, and I was wondering if a word from you, sir, might not have a good effect in stopping the practice of it.” “I’m afraid” said the' Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup), smiling “that it would take more than the Mayor to control the press. As long as there is any interest in the earthquake area, they will publish photographs. You can’t prevent that sort of thing.” OAMARU DONATION. OAMARU, August 3. The Mayor to-day forwarded a third instalment of £5OO for earthquake relief to the Central Committee.