HAWKE’S BAY REBUILDING

Taranaki Daily News, 12 June 1931, Page 7

HAWKE’S BAY REBUILDING

PLEA FOR MORE ASSISTANCE.

j£1,250,000 ADVANCE INADEQUATE.

By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Hastings, June 11. The support of the Hastings (jhamber of Commerce was given last night to the efforts that are being niade to procure a larger sum than £1,250,000 for the rehabilitation of earthquake-damag-ed'Hawke’s Bay. It was proposed by Mr. M. S. Spence that the chamber use every endeavour to have .the amount increased. It had been made clear by the Reliabilitatiqn Committee that the Act limited it to £1,250,000. The amount was inadequate. The committee had made it clear that its job was to distribute £1,250,000 to the best advantage and not to rehabilitate the devastated area. The proposal to widen HeretaUnga Street, the long main business street of Hastings, was rejected by a large majority bf the property-owners last night. Mr. J. W. Mawson ,town planner, addressed the meeting. This was the fourth meeting. Two previously favoured the scheme and twice previously heard Mr. Mawson's explanations. Last night’s discussion revealed a good deal of uncompromising hostility to the proposal, mainly on the score of expense, particularly in view of the financial problems now facing the town. , A further argument was that, on account of the fact that undamaged buildings would be allowed to remain on their present alignment, the appearance of the street would be spoilt by the placing back of the others. The meeting seemed to feel that the present and future prospects of the town did not warrant making a wide main street at considerable expense. The decision does hot, however, kill the nropcsal. A limit of £20,001), of which £lO,OOO is for the breakwater and £lO,OOO for the inner harbour, has been placed upon the cost of the reconstruction work of the Napier Harbour Board by the Minister of Finance. When the board met yesterday it was considered that this'amount was totally inadequate to mpet the requirements of the port. Moreover, more than half that euni had already been spent. 4 deputation, headed by the chairman, Mr. A. E. Jull. M.P., was set up to meet the Prime Minister to urge upon him the. inadequacy of the amount.