THE EARTHQUAKE

Southland Times, Issue 20833, 23 July 1929, Page 7

THE EARTHQUAKE

BELIEF MONEY

PURPOSE OF THE GENERzYL FUND AN ERRONEOUS IDEA Wanganui, July 22. Referring to the statement in the Press telegram from Westport in the morning papers to the effect that the Central Relief Committee had put its money into a general fund so that it may be put out at interest Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., said it was deplorable that the machinery of the Press Association should be used to propagate an erroneous idea and one that could only have the effect of interrupting the work of raising relief funds. It was wholly untrue to say that the purpose of the general fund was to put the money out at interest. The Prime Minister in reply to a question from Mr Holland had made it clear that while the money in the fund would earn interest the principal would be at call and would not be tied up in any way.

MR HOLLAND’S STATEMENT

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION. MESSAGE,

Westport, July 22. In reference to the statement by Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., concerning the Press Association message from Westport, it looks as if there were an omission in transmission as the message handed in to the Westport office read: In face of this, the Central Committee asks that the local committee put their money into the general fund so that it may be put out at interest. The statement of receipts and expenditure presented to Saturday’s meeting of the Buller relief committee showed payments totalling only £705 16/1, this including £4OO 7/5 for the relief of Seddonville residents arising out of the flood, yet a rough estimate of the private damage, excluding certain parts of the district from which no estimates have yet been received, was £82,000. The purport of the message was to show how slowly relief was being afforded and further, to show that owing to searching questions concerning the financial circumstances sufferers by the ’quake were asked to answer in the forms issued by the Central Committee, many of them, hard hit though they may be would rather shoulder their burdens than ask for one penny from the relief funds. Earthquakes are still numerous, amongst the most pronounced to-day being at 6.40, 10.14 a.m., 1.30, 5.26, 6.3 and 6.50 p.m. Death From Heart Failure. The death took place in the district hospital this afternoon of Fred Patz, 52 years of age, of Corbievale, who had a most trying time during the earthquakes and looked quite a wreck when he reached the town. He served in the 9th Reinforcement. He gave a vivid picture of the damage done during the earthquake, stating that portions of the mountains were flung fully half a mile away. He contributed many articles on topical subjects to the New Zealand and Australian Press. His death was due to heart trouble brought on by the earthquake. HAWERA’S CONTRIBUTION. Hawera, July 22. The sum nf £1263 was forwarded to the central earthquake relief fund from Hawera this morning, £825 being from the Mayor's appeal and £437 from the Star subscription list. THE MAYOR’S FUND.

The following contributions have been re. ceived to date towards the Mayor’s fund for the relief of sufferers from the earth-

quake:— £ s. d. Amount previously acknowledged 2310 0 1 T R 10 0 A. Friend 10 0 Rev. H. C. L. Gaut, Winton 10 6 E 1» 1 0 0 HD 2 0 0 Southland Farmers’ Union .. 25 0 0 W. Todd & Co 10 0 0 Fanners’ Dairy Federation staff 5 5 0 1 1 0 Southland Times staff .. .. 13 1 0 H 2 2 0 Linton Coal Co., Ltd 25 0 0 £2396 9 7