EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 February 1930, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

i, GRANTS TOTAL £51.342. ASSISTANCE STILL NEEDED ‘By Teltrgruj.r rre».- Awk-wUi-i. KGTORUA. Feb. 12. The Prime Minister, as chairman of ' lie CentraV Earthquake Committee, today made a statemement briefly* indicating the progress of relief measures in connection with the earthquake. At tli e last meeting of the Central Earthquake Committee grants totalling £51,432 Ss Id for repair of earthquake damage were authorised. The committee had previously authorised grants amounting to £2420 14s Bd. so that the total authorities at the date of the last meeting of the committee were £53,853 2s 9d. An executive committee was appointed to deal* with any other applications that might he received, and up to the present the executive had 'authorised grants amounting to £19.393 14s sd. ' Thus the total grants authorised for the repair of earthquake damage to piopertv, as distinct from expenditure connected with refugees’ aK'.owances, to settlers on account of loss o' access and pensions for widows a -,i indents? of persons killed during the earthauake, amount to £73,246 17s 2d. Applications for assistance are still biing received from some of the disi lot committees. These are being dealt with by the executive of the Cen_ ;i Committee. andNin addition the executive is investigating complaints that. I;mw been made regarding the insufficiency of assistance already igrant■l W'-'.n these ma-titers are finalised ;• m ctinrr of the Central Earthquake Committee wilt be held.

In regard to. those cases where .settler* are unable through lack of road •rtvosw to work their farms the committee has authorised the. payment of ali van or. until sih time as road accommodation is restored. Allowances anv untino to "approximately £BO per week : s at present being (paid and it i, inr ossihle at the moment ho determine the amount that will be re.'i 'it on this account. Concerning the question of assistance to - widows and- dens-ndon. 4- *, of (persons hilled during the earthquake, the committee at its last meeting reso..ve:j to .uq ost the Commissioner </ Pensions 1 j inve-.tieute and rewont ns to what rrovi-i in it would ho reason able to make but of the r°lict fund on tins ac ( lu.nt. The report, of the commissioner will be considered at the next meeting cf the committee. It is probable that approximately £20,000 will be required or the. |> i* ( rose of providing for widow* and dependents of those who los'c- theii lives. This summary doe.* not provide fo> i c; whole of the charpes on the central I . lid. out coveis only the authorities delnPelv issued bv the committee. The lib ha- io meet t>a charges inc-identa,. t-: the cm re of refugees from the affected cas immediaitecy following the disturbance. In addition to this authority was -given for repairs up to- £ls to ho carried nut in the Boiler and Karnmea stri ts wit.-lit i?.. eren.e to the Cen.l c.-ominittee. ant the' toal expendi v- -••••!• these headings i.« at present i mortem. A f;:l: statement of the r. ml ar.di commitments wit be place-cl UV-t ? f.’-o Central Committee at its n xt meeting.