THE EARTHQUAKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 August 1929, Page 3

THE EARTHQUAKE

MURCHISON FARMS ACCESS. (Per Press Association.) NELSON, August 28. In connection with tlie damage to farms and the difficulties of access to farms in the Murchison district, Sir Joseph Ward, Chairman of the Central Relief Committee, has written stating that the Government is alive to the necessity for restoring communications *' as soon as possible, and a great deal has been done in the way of providing track access already, but it is impossible to make any general statement that all the roads will be reopened until the potentialities of each locality have been fully explored. It is recognised that, in many cases, the extent of the assistance required by the settlers is dependent upon the restbra- . tion of the roads, but if. is suggested that the difficulties of .settlers might be met by the submission, of alternative applications assuming, firstly, that access will be restored, and, secondly, that it will not. This will enable the settlers to finalise their applications, and individual cases can be considered by the Committee in due course. GREY COMMITTEE. The Grey District Earthquake Relief Committee held its final meeting last evening. The Mayor (Mr J. W. Greenslade) presided, and there were also present: Messrs D. McKay, W. Hill, T. R. Saywell, J. Higgins, J. Smeaton, C. K. Millar, J. B. Kent, A. McTaggart, F. 11. Denton (secretary), and Rev. Father Long. Apologies for absence were received from Mr T. Cagney and the Rev. G. E. Brown.

Applications were dealt with as follow :—Greymouth 14, Grey County (including Blackball) 8, Cobden 3, Runanga 6, Brunner 2. No further applications will be accepted for consideration. 2V letter * was received from the Chairman of the Central Earthquake Committee (Sir Joseph Ward) stating that applications would be received from churches and other institutions, on the understanding that assistance would first be provided to residents in necessitous cases, leaving, the question of assistance to other bodies to be considered later if funds permitted. Another letter from the Chairman of the Central Committee stated that the Committee had considered the question of damage to farm properties and the difficulty of farmers owing to loss of access to their farms, and it was of the opinion that it -would be impossible to formulate any policy in connection with such matters until the extent of the total assistance required was known. The Central Committee has extended the closing date for applications to August 31.