USE OF EARTHQUAKE FUND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22729, 30 August 1948, Page 4

USE OF EARTHQUAKE FUND

Sir.—T was pleased to see a report in the Dominion on August 27 that Mr. R L. Macalister. a councillor, had expressed the hope that the Government will apply monies from the Earthquake Insurance Fund towards assistance for those who have suffered loss of property during the recent tornado at Frarikton and Hamilton. Whilst being strongly in favour of Mr. Macalister’s hope, I would further urge that similar

action be taken as regards the sufferers under the Gisborne flood.

I am informed by one of the latter who was seriously affected that the only assistance given by the Government was the offer of a loan free of interest for one or one and a half years. Quotes my informant: "How can these people hope to repay a loan in such a short period when in some cases it will take years to get their farms back in full production?” I will ask: Has the Government an eye to the future insofar as it may attempt to take over the farms of those who may and probably will be unable to meet the conditions of repayments? So far as I am aware the people have never been informed of the amount in the Earthquake Insurance Fund, but it must be a very considerable sum unless it has been drawn upon for other purposes, a thing which I believe has happened to other special public countsJOHN H. A. MOORE.