COST TO STATE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 250, 5 October 1932, Page 9

COST TO STATE

H.B. EARTHQUAKE

TOTAL OF £1,770,000.

DISPOSAL OF RELIEF FUND

“During the past year rapid > progress has been made in the work of rehabilitating the areas in Hawke’s Bay which were devastated by earthquake in February, 1931, (” said the Prime Minister in his Budget speech in the House ft Representatives last evening.

“The Relief Fund was administered by a central committee, with the Public Trustee as executive officer. Public subscriptions with interest accumulated on the temporary investment of ' the funds amounted to about £400,000. The work of applying the fund to the purpose for which it was raised has now been practically completed, the money being expended mainly on the following items;—

Food, clothing, medical attention, and temporary accommodation 95,0011 Assistance for repairs to 8.500 dwellings 841,006 Permanent provision for persons injured and dependents of persons killed or injured 47,000 Grants for personal losses ... 8,000 Assistance to elderly persons unemployed as a result of the earthquake , 8,000

£393,000 “The Hawke’s Bay Adjustment Court set up to facilitate a general adi'ustment of pre-earthquake liabilities las dealt with the large number of cases that have come forward to date. Any further cases brought forward will be dealt with as they arise.

REHABILITATION COMMITTEE. “The Rehabilitation Committee has also dealt with all claims for assistance out of the special funds provided for the purpose by the State. The work of the Committee which has now been completed has, generally speaking, given satisfaction, and the assietanee recommended by it has materially helped sufferers from the earthquake to rehabilitate themselves. Tho members of the Committee are to be commended for the efficient manner in which thev have carried but a difficult task

“As to the cost to the State, honourable members will be interested to know that in the aggregate loans and grants to individuals amounted to i.tXM), while £250,000 has been lent to the local bodies in the area. The administration expenses to date amount to £4,940. In addition, the State has been put to considerable expense in restoring railways, roads, bridges, buildings, telegraph-lines, etc. —all of which by the time the work is completed will cost approximately £675.000. The cost of the earthquake to the State is thus approximately £1,770,000 made up as follows: — Immediate assistance and restoration of public services 55,00' Rehabilitation grants and loans for business and other purposes 840,000 Loans to local bodies for restoration of services ... 250,0G< Public buildings 200,061, Roads and bridges 84,00 ’ Railway-lines 35,0';.' Surveys, maps, etc 72,00' Assistance from Unemployment Fund mostly for roads, sewerage, stop-banks, clearing away debris, etc. ... 100,(X Other miscellaneous costs ... 134,(X £1,770,00“Tho assistance afforded to earth quake sufferers, together with the amount transferred to the Consolidate! 1 Fund last year, has reduced the Reserve Fund to a realisable value of up proximately £200,000 ”