FINANCE ADEQUATE FOR FLOOD RELIEF MINISTER'S OPINION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22657, 7 June 1948, Page 6

FINANCE ADEQUATE FOR FLOOD RELIEF MINISTER'S OPINION

The argument that the earthquake fund should be drawn upon to provide financial relief to sufferers from the recent flooding was raised more than once in discussions between the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. E. L. Cullen, and settlers whom he met in the Gisborne district during Friday’s tour.

Replying to questions as to why this fund, now representing some millions of pounds .should not be used to meet such emergencies, Mr. Cullen pointed out that the earthquake relief fund was established by statute for a particular purpose. It could not be diverted from that purpose, even though such a diversion might seem desirable to many people. . The money in the fund was levied from insurers all over the country and was held in trust to meet emergencies which came within the original objects

of the statute. Contributors would have every right to criticise any diversion of the funds to other purposes.

The Minister added that the provision of finance to meet the recent emergency in the Gisborne district was the obligation of the Government. There had been no suggestion that such finance would be inadequate, and he suggested that diversion of the emergency funds now held in trust could do no more than was being done at present without such diversion.