RECENT BUSH FIRES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 109, 8 April 1926, Page 10

RECENT BUSH FIRES.

DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF FUNDS. STRONG RESENTMENT. MELBOURNE, March 26. How the money collected by public subscription's to be distributed is the subject of bitter controversy in the bush firo areas. The money now totals nearly £150,000. Bush fire victims at Powelltown openly express their resentment and disappointment at tho manner in which the funds are being handled. A striking feature is that the claims iodged before the bush fire relief committee have been in the vast majority of cases of a most modest character, the losses in numerous instances exceeding the claims. An example of the unsatisfactory methods of dealing with the funds is illustrated in tho case of a man and woman who lost the contents of their fully furnished four-roomed house, with all their clothing and belongings. When tho firo broke out the husband was in another part of ,tho district. With others ho assisted to fight the fires where ho was, and then set out for Powelltown over miles of burning country. Finding liis wife had not come to the township, he went on to his home some miles out, in the face of great risk. He found his wife safe, but his home had vanished. His wife only escaped with the clothes she was wearing. Even then she took her underskirt off and tore it up for bandages for tho neighbours’ children, who were burnt in the fire. This man was told by the relief committee that nothing could be done for him. Ho asked why, but could not get an explanation. They are being maintained by a resident of Powelltown. Other similar complaints have been related.