EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 10

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

FEW APPLICATIONS MADE.

COMMITTEE TO MEET SOON

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL KEPOItTER.] "WELLINGTON, "Wednesday.

Applications for 'assistance from the earthquake relief funds have not been lodged as promptly as anticipated, according to a statement mado by the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, in the House of Representatives to-day, in replying to Mr. G. C. Black (Government—Motueka), who asked when the next meeting of tho Central Relief Committee would be held.

Sir J-oscpb Ward, who is chairman of the committee, said the closing date for the receipt of applications had been exfended to August 31, and the committee decided it would not- be necessary to hold a meeting until after that date. It was tentatively decided to hold a meeting on September 4, but as applications had'not been received from the district committees by that da to lie deemed it advisable to postpone the meeting. "The position at the moment is that only about 12 applications have been ic* reived from Westport and none from Karamea," said Sir Joseph. "About twothirds of the applications received by the Murchison committee have been forwarded to the Central Committee, and the bulk of the Nelson applications is also in hand. The original intention of the committee was to deal with all applications at, the one time, in order thai'the fund might be equitably distributed, the idea being that the distribution could only be undertaken when the total assistance required was known. However; as this seems to be impossible of fulfilment T to call a meeting of the committee for September 25, when the position will be considered."