’QUAKE REHABILITATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 192, 29 July 1932, Page 8

’QUAKE REHABILITATION

COMMITTEE’S WORK ENDED TOTAL OF 1549 APPLICATIONS AMOUNT INVOLVED £2,159,422 By Telegraph—Special to “Tribune.” Wellington, July 28. The work of the Hawke’s Bay Rehabilitation Committee, set up under the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Act of 19.31, has been completed and a report containing a survey of the committee’s work, which included the consideration of 1549 applications for assistance to the extent of £2,159,422, has been submitted to the Government, according lo a statement by the Prime Minister.

‘ 'Altogether 1549 applications for assistance have been dealt with, the amount applied for being £2,159,422,’’ Mr Forbes said. “It is not at present possible to indicate the total amount of assistance given to applicants, but this information will be available for submission to Parliament at the forthcoming session.”

The following were the members: Messrs J. S. Barton, Borough Commissioner, Napier (chairman); G. Shirtcliffe, Wellington; W. Waddel, Wellington; W. G. Sherratt, Gisborne; E. H. Wright, Wanganui. MEETINGS OF COMMITTEE. The first meeting was held in Wellington commencing on May 26, 1931, and eleven meetings have been held in all, involving 40 sitting days. Five meetings were held in Hawke’s Bay and six at Wellington, the decision to sit in one place or the other being dictated by considerations of convenience and effectiveness, connected with the necessity of sometimes being in touch with the staff and records at headquarters and sometimes of being in immediate touch with the devastated locality, applicants and witnesses. At its inaugural meeting the committee drew up a set of rules of procedure and defined the general lines of its policy. It then fixed July 15 as the closing date for the reception of applications, but found it necessary to extend this time. Subsequently, by direction of the Minister of Finance, April 30, 1932, was fixed as a final closing date. All applications submitted had been carefully considered, Mr Forbes said, and the committee recommended assistance in all approved cases to an amount sufficient, in its opinion, to ensure a reasonable basis of rehabilitation if carefully and wisely applied.

RELIEF COMMITTEE’S WORK The committee had been kept advised from time to time of collateral work done under the Hawke’s Bay Earthquake Act by the Adjustment Court, and had also been in close touch with the Earthquake Relief Committee, which administered the fund of voluntary subscriptions. The relief committee met practically all claims for maintenance, food and clothing, hospital and medical expenses, essential repairs to dwellings up to a maximum of £lOO in each case, and pensions for the dependents of persons killed and for those permanently incapacitated by the earthquake. The Rehabilitation Committee had, therefore, been able to confine its attention principally to the rehabilitation of businesses.

In concluding the report the committee expressed appreciation of the valuable assistance afforded by the Government departments in investigating claims and furnishing relative valuations and other reports. This applied more particularly to the two valuers stationed at Napier, Messrs Buckingham and McClintock. Special mention was also made regarding Messrs E. Mitchell and C. J. Atkin, of the Treasury, for their services as secretaries of the committee.