Mr Forbes Meets Hastings Residents

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5573, 11 February 1931, Page 6

Mr Forbes Meets Hastings Residents

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS DISCUSSED. Per Presp Association. HASTINGS, Last Night. _ A conference dealing with the problems now facing the business people of the town as well as residents generally was held in Hastings this afternoon, Kt. Hon. G. W. Forbes represeating the Government, and Sir Apirana Ngata, Native Minister, and Rev. F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotcaroa, among others being present. Tho speakers asked for Government assistance in reconditioning the town and referred to tho payment of men ongaged on such work. Mr. Forbes, in reply, said the Central Belief Committee would meet in Wellington to-morrow and establish branches in the affected areas. Tha central committee’s policy in regard to the distribution of funds would be similar to that adopted in respect of the West Coast earthquake. Tho first call on tho funds would be for the personal requirements of people in distress, then would come the necessity of restoring houses and. next the restoration of business activity. It was a big task to restore the -commerce of two towns so badly broken as Napier and Hastings, but tke Government intended to do its very utmost to assist. , The question of local versus Government control would be fully investigated by Cabinet and a .decision given later. As for the question, of tho employment of labour by outside contractors,■ they would be debarred from using outsido labour except insofar as they might have to import specially skilled workers. Cabinet would meet and discuss the whole matter as early as possible. "My colleagues and I are lully determined that everything be done that can bo done.” Sir Andrew Eusscll mentioned the problems of the farmers affected by the ’quako und said that though thenposition was not a matter of life and death many of them had suffered material damage and required financial assistance. , . Mr. Forbes assured him that the chums of town and country would be considered on their merits. Ho also assured tho meeting that the town would be protected from any incursion from outsiders seeking to establish business, and whatever goods had already been bought by the Belief Committee for tho immediate relief of distress would bo paid for out of the funds. , Then tho Prime Minister announced that tho Government Insurance Office would pay out under its fire policies on buildings which had been destroyed by fire following the ’quake. Earthquako was a risk, said Mt. Forbes, which must bo taken by us in New Zealand and wo were going to lay down a set of building regulations to cover the whole of the Dominion. It would be the Government’s duty to see that buildings were built to stand ’quake shocks. They could not take the risk of any more disasters such as we have just experienced. Ho added that lie hoped other insurance institutions would follow the Government’s lead in waving their rights under fire policies on buildings destroyed by the ’quake and subsequent lire. It was, however, a matter for them to deal with. Mr. Forbes also stated that special consideration would be given to sufferers in connection with the payment of income tax.