AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1930, Page 6

AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

NELSON HOSPITAL REPAIRS. GOVERNMENT ASKED TO PAY. The earthquake of last June involved the Nelson Hospital Board in an expenditure of £BB3O in repairing damage and making structural alterations to strengthen the building against possible future damage from the same cause. The Government has already contributed £3OOO toward the cost, and on the balance has given a £1 for £1 subsidy, leaving approximately - £3OOO to be found by way of additional levy on contributing local bodies. This means an increase in rates, and a deputation re--presenting local bodies to-day waited on the Minister of Health (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy) requesting the Government to find the whole amount of the money necessary to pay for repairing earthquake damage. Mr. Stallworthy said he could not commit the Minister of Finance because of the necessity for economy, but he would lay the case before him. Speakers stressed the point that the matter should be looked upon as a national one, and that it was not reasonable to expect ratepayers who had already contributed liberally to the earthquake fund to be called upon to pay additional rates. It was pointed out that many sufferers from the earthquake had not called upon the relief fund, but had stood their losses, arid that the Government had paid the total cost of damage at Westport. The Minister, replying, said Nelson people were to be congratulated on . the fine spirit shown in not relying upon outside assistance, and also in contributing liberally to the relief fund.. Regarding the treatment of Westport, he stated that the original estimate for repairing damage in that town was £3OOO, which the Government had immediately met, and that sum fortunately covered the damage. The original estimate of damage at Nelson was about £l9OO, and authority had been given immediately for that amount, and it was not until later that the damage was found to be more extensive. Had Nelson said at the outset that it wanted, say, £9OOO, he had no hesitation in saying that that would have been given. Had it been a normal year he would have committed the Minister of Finance to meet the adidtional requirements, said Mr. Stallworthy, but unfortunately times were not normal. He was very pleased to have fuller information regarding the general financial position. He could say frankly that he was not in a position to say off-hand that he could find the money required. As a matter of fact, he knew he could not find it out of the Health vote. Economy was so necessary that even £3OOO would be a considerable sum. He admitted that the deputation had established its case without a shadow of doubt, and he would make a recommendation to the Minister of Finance to see if it were possible to put a straight-out vote on the Estimates td : meet the situation.;/ -V ' '!■ <t? ’ ! J' 1 :: fi!-WH