PROVISION OF RELIEF

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 56, 13 February 1931, Page 2

PROVISION OF RELIEF

EFFICIENT ORGANISATION | STATEMENT BY TRIME MINISTER, j WELLINGTON, Feb. 12. j In connection with h.? recent appeal j to the people of New W,and for fin ; ancial assistance for the ic..o' "* ««*' \ ierers from the earthquake catast, j?*'* \ in Hawke's Bay, the Prime Minister, j the lion. G. W. Forbes, has aim on need j that he and members of the Cabmc j have, iti the meantime, visited tho j stricken areas. He and his colleague:) j wish to stress the magnitude of the disaster and the sore need of the unfor- | lunate residents for prompt help. j A strong central committee has been set up to administer the funds subscribed for the sufferers, as has already been advised. Moneys will be held by the Public Trustee, who is the executive officer of the committee, and the extensive organisation of his department is available to facilitate the conduct of adniinitration. The chief in- ; spector of the Public Trust Office, Mr A. R, Coad. has been detailed by the Public, Trustee to superintend operations in connection with the udminist trafion of relief funds in the stricken areas, and a special experienced stall has been set aside to assist him in his work. These officers are proceeding to Napier immediately and will at once associate themselves with the local commit tees.

The Prime Minister has advised that the central committee bold its first, meeting and appointed local relief com mittccs for Napier, Hastings, Hawke's Bay County, Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay fo r the purpose of dealing expeditiously on the spot with local relief, Ihe disbursement of funds, making recommendations, and advising the central committee on all matters arising out of the 'administraiou of relief funds. Thus the public will see, the Prime Minister added, that careful steps have been taken to ensure that relief work is properly co-ordinated and that there will be as little delay as possible in applying the moneys for the purposes for the purposes for which they were subscribed. Ho felt sure that the people would give prompt and generous response to the appeal for funds for the sufferers, and he hoped that local bodies and other public and private organisations and individuals would cooperate in every way possible to afford much needed relief and alleviate Ihc widespread distress, one year undergoing a refit. no matter how large a sum was subscribed it could not possibly meet the requirements of the sufferers or be sufficient to aid the people of the earthquake zone in their prodigious task of restoring normal conditions and the commerce of the community.