FREE MEALS RESTRICTED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 12

FREE MEALS RESTRICTED.

CHECK ON DISTRIBUTION.

DECISION AT HASTINGS.

MANY PEOPLE ABLE TO PAY.

RATIONING SCHEME ADOPTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.] HASTINGS, .Monday.

The system of giving out free meals to everybody is to come to an end in Hastings. The Citizens' Committee, which has been seriously concerned over the waste of money involved in this system, decided to-day to embark on a striker policy and to provide free food only to thoso who are destitute or engaged voluntarily on demolition and cleaning tip work. The scheme for issuing ration cards prepared by Staff Sergeant-Major O'Leary, who played a very prominent pait in the patrolling of the town imme diately following the earthquake, was unanimously approved at this morning's meeting.

Under this scheme a complete register of tho people remaining in the town will be compiled and those persons in a position to pay for food will be expected to do so. It is fully recognised that even persons of means are at present handicapped by having no cash in their possession owiug to the destruction of all the banks, but such persons under the now scheme will be debited with all food issued to them and their families.

Staff Sergeant-Major O'Leary stated that 500 people were drawing free rations when they were fully able to pay for them. He included in this category all Government employees, including men at present engaged by the PuGlic Works Department in clearing the streets. Thesa men, although not actually in receipt of wages, would bo paid arrears when tho banks reopened. He maintained that too many people were at present imposing on the town and funds raised by public subscription. A strict rationing scheme was only a duty to those who wero so generously coming to the aid of the people. Tho scheme was endorsed and a subcommittee was appointed lo give effect to it immediately. SEVERE TREMORS. NAPIER AND HASTINGS. LITTLE DAMAGE CAUSED. WARSHIP DUNEDIN SHAKEN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER, Monday. Another severe earthquake shock was felt both at Napier and Hastings at 8.45 this morning. The shocks certainly seem to be getting fewer, but, so far, one has been able to depend on at least one really good shake a day. These subsidiary earth movements are not causing very much damage, as there are veiy few stone buildings left to be damaged. However, falls of bricks and masonry occur from ruined buildings not yet demolished and ruins of other buildings are occasionally flattened out. This morning's shake could be felt distinctly on board the Dunedin, which is anchored off the port in an appreciable depth of water. The ship shook from stem to stern and clouds of dust rose from the face of the cliffs on the Bluff, where further slips occurred. INSURANCE POLICIES. EARTHQUAKE RISKS. NEW TARIFF PENDING.

Insurance companies are now underwriting earthquake risks subject to the introduction of a new tariff, the rates of which will be fixed at a meeting of underwriters to bo held in Wellington in the near future. Only limited cover is being given in the meantime.

EARTHQUAKE EXPECTED.

FURTHER SHOCKS UNLIKELY.

STATEMENT BY SEISMOLOGIST.

SYDNEY. Feb. 9.

Tho Rev. Father O'Leary, director of the River view Observatory, Sydney, an eminent seismologist, says it was known that there would bo an earthquake in the Napior region. What seismologists did not know was whether it would come this year or 1000 years hence.

These events were the earth's growing pains. Ho went on to speak of the origin of earthquakes, and said that if there wero no New Zealand, then the east coast of Australia would' bo in the earthquake zone, for the deepening Pacific would be delivering upward thrusts at the Australian coast. Thus Now Zealand acted as a buffer, for which Australians should be thankful. -

Napier, he added, need fear no more upheavals of any magnitude for 100 years or more. The recent convulsion was so great that obviously there must be a long subterranean preparation and Jong pressure on tho pitch crust before another big movement could occur. "But let Napier-rebuild wisely," ho concluded.

ORIGIN OF UPHEAVAL.

INQUIRY BY SCIENTISTS,

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLINGTON, Monday.

Tho director of tho Department of Scieiv tific and Industrial Research, Dr. E. Marsden, who returnod to Wellington on the Makura to-day after a tour overseas, said that, as the result of a meeting this afternoon, several metnbers of the scientific staff of the department would commence, operations in finding the exact location of tho Napier earthquake and in tracing from where tho movement- was proceeding.