EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21361, 15 June 1931, Page 8

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

METHODS OF DISBURSEMENT CENTRALISATION OF MONEY DESIRED. (Peb United Press Association.) i' WELLINGTON, June 13. The Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) stated to-day that a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Relief Fund Committee had recently confirmed the arrangement by which in the meantime all assistance for the rehabilitation of houses is by way of loan without interest, repayable in monthly instalments over a period not exceeding 12 months. Financial assistance of this nature has also been extended to those who have paid for their own.repairs and persons who are tradesmen and have carried out their own work. Mr Forbes said that, with a view to ascertaining the total amount of claims against the relief fund, in view of the settlement of a scheme of distribution, notification is to be made that all claims must be submitted before July 31. It had been decided to request those in charge of funds not under the control of the central committee to pay over any unexpended balances to the credit of a central fund, where they would immediately earn interest at 5J per cent. In the event of failure to comply itwas proposed to bring down regulations requiring the payment of such funds to the central fund. A report on the financial position of the fund shows the gross receipts to be £376,230, whilst the payments and commitments against the fund amount to considerably over £2,600,000. The claims still to be received, however, will amount to a very large sum, and it is certain that the whole of the amount in hand will be required to meet the heavy demands likely to be made. ,