APPEAL TO PUBLIC

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1932, Page 5

APPEAL TO PUBLIC

FOR QUAKE RELIEF Government’s Decision FURTHER RELIEF MEASURES. (Per Press Association). WAIROA, September 19. Thc Mayor of Wairoa, Mr Harker, has this afternoon received an intimation that it is Air Forbes’s intention to launch a national appeal for financial assistance for the quake sufferers. The Alayor is also advised that Mr Furkert (Engineer-in-Chicf) is to visit here and make a survey of the position. Thc foregoing announcement has been received ■with feelings of gratification by the earthquake sufferers, for the position genuinely warrants , the relief. Previous to the receipt of the Premier’s advice a telegram was received from Air Gerhard llusheer, of the National Tobacco Coy., placing £l5O to the credit of the Alayor for relief purposes. The Alayor, Air Harker, lias wired Air Coates, stating that thc position without any bridge here is absolutely unbearable, and asking the Government to arrange immediately for a pontoon bridge, or some other means of uniting the two sides of the town. Air Harker has replied thanking Air Forbes for making the national appeal, and for sending Air Furkert, but the Alayor stated that the matters of the tanks and chimneys cannot wait for Mr Furkert’s report, and asking thc Government to forward immediate authority to have chimneys and tanks reinstated, as the position of many families in the town and country is desperate.

NATIONAL APPEAL

By Prime Minister THE NEED URGENT. WELLINGTON, September 19. The following appeal has been issued to the people of the Dominion by the Prime Minister:— “In view of the damage caused by the recent earthquakes in the Wairoa, Gisborne and surrounding districts, following so closely upon the serious disaster of February, 1931, by which considerable damage was caused in the same district, I desire to issue an appeal to the people of New Zealand for financial assistance to relieve, in some measure, the plight of the sufferers in the districts affected. It will be realised that, although this most recent, earthquake cannot be compared with the disaster of February, 1931, the residents and the business community in the district had not recovered from the effects of the previous disaster, and are not in a position to bear the additional loss as the result of tho re-

I cent earthquakes. I have no doubt that the philanthropic spirit of New Zealanders, which has been amply demonstrated in the past, will ensure a ready and generous response to this appeal for assistance for our fellow countrymen, who are now in such need of help. “I would suggest that relief funds be inaugurated in each of the centres’ population throughout the Dominion, preferably by the municipal authorities and the newspaper offices. In previous disasters, the Government has established a general fund to be administered by a special representative committee. Any moneys received direct by the Government will be paid iitto a genera] fund, the administration of which will closely follow the admin istration set up in connection with th-? previous earthquakes. “Bank receipts for donations in respect to this present appeal should be] sent to the Secretary of the Treasury, Wellington, with a covering letter setting out details of the contributions. All contributions will be publicly acknowledged through the press, and official receipts will be forwarded for all remittances. Steps will also be taken by the Government to submit legislation to Parliament at the forthcoming session to validate donations by local authorities to the earthquake fund. The setting up of a Central Fund has, in the previous cases, enabled the assistance in various localities to be co-ordinated, resulting in a concentration of effort, and has justified th«? measures taken.