BUSH FIRE SUFFERERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16822, 12 April 1918, Page 7

BUSH FIRE SUFFERERS.

ADMINISTRATION OF RELIEF. R# Mm NEW ASSOCIATION FORMED.

88' SURPLUS FOR FUTURE USE. ml - Wi.' [BT TFXEUIUrH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] ||n" . WELLINGTON. Thursday. ; f}. The report of the two members of the M. Rational Efficiency Board who visited the V, Eittihi district at the request of tho W Government, is now available. After t stating that the actual relief on the spot '■''■ is being systematised so that there will ;■' be no wasteful overlapping, the report pays a tribute to the work of the Sal- :« vation Army and the Y.M.C.A., and to (he generosity of the public. "There remains to he handled.'' the report con(inues. " the replacement of the burnt-out dwellings, business premises, and factories in the townships, ami the restoration of the g-ass lands, fencing, farm dwellings, and buildings, and the restocking of the country land* through which the tiro swept. There have also been a large number of sawmills and the dwellings of sawmill employees burnt out, some of which, if they have to be replaced, may necessitate temporary pecuniary assistance being provided. The immediate and urgent need for the re grassing of the lands is D handled by the Lands Department, 1 and it is trusted that sufficient labour will . bo found to sow the burnt lands within {he lext few weeks, and thereby minimise the 'ess in production caused by the fire." Continuing, the report states that the ■ Waimarino Fire Relief Association had been formed to investigate the cases requiring assistance, to grant relief by tho way of gift or loan, and to manage the Joans until repayment. The management of this Trust Society would be in the hands of an executive, partly nominated and partly elected. It would include two i nominees of the Government, the three local trustees of the National Efficiency j Board, two local minister? of religion, I two representatives of the Raetihi Town ! < : Board, and the Waimarino County Coun-j cil three persons elected at a public meeting, and two others to bo elected by the i' other members. The persons affected by , ,' the disaster, now that they had obtained! ;; ' temporary relief in the form of food, ; clothes, and shelter, only desired such' '■ monetary loans as would enable them to ' start by their own exertions to replace, l jo fir as is possible, their losses through th» fire. It was anticipated that the greater portion of the assistance to be . ; granted by the association would be in i ' the form of loans bearing interest and repayable in instalments during a term of \ yean. These loans would be granted at s i lower rate of interest and on less determinate security than could be expected ?! from any financial institution. A3 it was desired that the scheme ihou'd effect its object within five years, the rules of the association provide for j • its winding up at th:- expiration of that period. Any sums remaining after the' repayment of moneyi borrowed from the! Government or elsewhere are to be pay- 1 able to the Public Trustee, to be held by j him as the nucleus of a fund to be ex-1 peaded to grant assistance within New) 5 Zealand in similar cases of trouble through j foe. The subscribing public would therelore have the satisfaction of knowing that, taW were not only assisting to put their j felknr-citiicns in the Waimarino upon I their feet, but that the r gifts might 1 assist in years to come others similarly " distressed. n.AWAMUTTJ SUBSCRIPTIONS. I jfefiSJ ' /?? OVER £38 SECURED. [BI.ttUOKAPH.— roRBISPOVDEST.J 't TE AWAMUTU, Thursday. ; : The fortnightly meeting of the Te Awa'Borough Council decided to remit ' lie sua of £58 19s, subscribed locally, to -.-. (lie King Country fire relief fund.