EARTHQUAKE BILL

Northern Advocate, 7 April 1931, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE BILL

PROVISIONS CRITICISED

DEPUTATION APPOINTED,

SEVERAL POINTS STRESSED

(Special to “Northern Advocate.”) HASTINGS, This Day.

The Earthquake Biff has received the earnest consideration of the committee set up by a public meeting recently. A deputation has been appointed to wait on the Prime Minister tomorrow at Wellington. The following points on the measure arc to be stressed: “That the amount of £1,500,000, for rehabilitation, both Municipal and private, is inadequate, and that the insurance loss assessment of the damage would be in the region of £5,000,000. “That the method proposed—individual investigation of each claim—of ascertaining the damage and appropriating loans or grants will be cumbersome, and must inevitably take considerable time thereby delaying reconstruction.

“That the payment should be made to parties in proportion to the loss sustained, without any reference to their financial position; and that for proper rehabilitation it is necessary that all payments should be by means of a grant and not by loan. “That in view of the inadequacy of the amount, the committee charged with the administration of the fund will either have to make inadequate payments to all who have suffered loss, or else will be called upon to discriminate between various applicants. In either case there will be interminable delay and sufferers will bo unable' for many months to take action because they will not know what finance will be available.

“It appears that the rehabilitation committee will function merely as an ordinary welfare committee, providing grants for indigent and most necessitous cases only, and will thereby be the greatest obstruction to any reasonable and speedy organisation of the normal business and other activities in the district.

“Therefore, we wish to emphasise that a general principle of distribution of funds, should be laid down, whereby those having suffered loss will be able to form some idea of the measure of assistance which they will receive, so that they may plan their restoration accordingly. ’ ’

The Committee has drafted a scheme containing the following proposals:— That the material damage to properties, both real and personal, shall be urgently ascertained by the insurance companies operating in New Zealand. That any person objecting to the assessment of the insurance companies shall have the right to appeal to a special appeal board. While not regarding it as a vital issue in the scheme, that the insurance companies be asked to make an ex gratia payment of such proportions as they consider fair and equitable. That the Government raise a special loan, if necessary, by (say) three annual instalments, both these loan moneys together with the ex gratia payment, if any, to be disbursed, preferably, but not essentially, by and through the insurance companies in paying losses suffered on the basis of the amount of insurance cover held by the sufferer, such losses including loss by earthquake and by fire following earthquake. That the security or method for repayment of interest and principal be an amount added to the premium of existing and future insurance policies on all insurable writs domiciled in New Zealand; this charge to be a permanent charge for the additional purpose of ensuring against future disasters. The Committee states that these suggestions are submitted not in a spirit of carping criticism, but in the hope that they may help to attain the solution of wdiat is admittedly a difficult position. It requests that they be embodied in the forthcoming legislation. ALL A-TEEMBLE. FREQUENT SHOCKS. (Special to “Northern Advocate. >f ) NAPIER, This Day. Earth tremors continue to bo felt occasionally in various quarters of the Hawke’s Bay district. Frequently shocks are being experienced in the Pxasertown district, and distinct rumblings can be hoard from the direction of Mohaka.