REFUGEE TRANSPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17502, 26 February 1931, Page 8

REFUGEE TRANSPORT

MOTORISTS’ ASSISTANCE

NO CHARGE FOR BENZINE

(Special to tho Herald.)

WELLINGTON, this clay. A discussion at Wellington concerning the earthquake relief fund regarding thousands of pounds spent on petrol is likely to convey the impression that the relief funds have been heavily involved. This is not the case.

Several hundred members of the Wellington Automobile Club were constantly employed in relief work, and the club’s president, Mr. A. 0. Batt, estimates that they have incurred an expense of between £6OOO and £7OOO for petrol alone, to which could be added a similar sum for wear and tear.

Questioned by your correspondent as to whether any payment was made from the funds to meet these outlays, Mr. Stott, the secretary, replied: “No. It, has been done in the usual Wellington way—quite voluntarily.” lie quoted instances where members making frequent emergency trips to Napier in the first week spent. £2O in petrol. It came out of their own pocket, as there was no other way of getting it. A small number of cases had arisen where refugees were absolutely without. the funds required to help to purchase petrol to return in their own cars. They were given a supply, but this did not exceed 50 gallons. He fully supported the declaration of the Mayor of Wellington that except for the above cases not one gallon of petrol had been given away.