RELIEF MONEY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11450, 26 February 1931, Page 7

RELIEF MONEY

WILL ONLY HELR IN PERSONAL

LOSSES

PIIQPOSED NATIONAL LOAN.

INTEREST PROM INSURANCE ..- PREMIUMS. \ j .(Ppbss Association.? WELLINGTON,' Feb.- 2 1 ,s lf .’ihcs pbopie <sf Now ZeAlaftß- afq five.;-times as generous as they have over .boon, in regard to donations, sufcl/ sum- will only help dqal with "tho personal losses and , other expenditures entailed in the welfare of thousands of pooplo who hr 0 ixQ\v homeless and workless in Hawke’s Bay ” stated ‘ Mr.; A. E. Jull, M.P., for Waipavra, who lias forwarded to tho Prime Minister for the consideration of the Government details of a scheme for meeting the losses ontailed by the earthquake;

Mr. Jull compares the catastrophe to the war, and suggests that its methods of relief should hQ treated similarly. Ho therefore proposes the raising of a national loan in London, interest ' and sinking fund ,in connection therewith to be made a ...charge either on a percentage or flat rate basis on all future insurance premiums, both fire and accident, throughout the Dominion, the insurance companies to net as rpceivors lor such premiums, which will bo handed tq the Government in much tho same way as third party risks on motor owners are now received-

M!r. Jull’s scheme was discussed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, but.it was decided to defer decision until Parliament had, an opportunity of going into the question.

FIRE INSURANCE FOLIC'YII OLDER S.

SUG GESTED BECOM PEN SE

A MORAL OBLIGATION

Holders of fire insurance policies in Napier waited on tlie Hon-. R. Masters, Minister without portfolio, ou Saturday, and recoin mended to him the scheme for recompensing those without earthquake cover by a London loan covered by a suicharge of 121 per cent, ou all’fire insurance premiums, the insurance companies to be asked to assist by finding part of the total sum needed.

Mr. J. Mason, who presided at a previous meeting of nobey-holders, which endorsed the scheme, said it offered the insurance companies a means of meeting the .position by a partial payment and thereby fulfilling the. moral obligation which undoubtedly rested, upon them.

The'Minister'said the proposals appeared to lam to bp wu-o. Ho would lay/the representation-' of the uepntat’on before tlio Prime Minister as a matter of urgency. The Government bv paying out to State policy-holders its, had shown that it recognised a moral obligation to. .make some reimbursement to them in respect to I heir fire insurance contracts.