EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Southland Times, Issue 21420, 15 June 1931, Page 7

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

ASSISTANCE BY LOAN. CONTROL OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 13. The Prime Minister (the’Rt. Hon. Gt W. Forbes) states that at a meeting of the Hawkes Bay Relief Fund Committee held recently the committee confirms arrangements whereby in the meantime all assistance for the rehabilation of houses is to be by way of loan without interest, repayable by monthly instalments over a period not exceeding 12 months. Financial assistance of this nature has also been extended to those who had paid for their own repairs and persons who were tradesmen and had carried out their own work.

With a view to ascertaining the total amount of claims against the relief fund with a view to the settlement of the scheme of distribution, notification is to be made that all claims must be submitted before July 31. It was 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 the central fund where they will immediately earn interest at 5< per cent. In the event of failure to comply with this request it is proposed to bring down regulations requiring payment of such funds to the central fund.

A report on the financial position of the fund shows gross receipts to be £376,236, whilst payments and commitments against the fund amount to considerably over £2,000,000. 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.