EARTHQUAKE AREA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18833, 23 March 1931, Page 13

EARTHQUAKE AREA.

HOSPITAL BOARD’S LOSSES. By Telegraph —Press Association NAPIER, March 21. Special legislation is being prepared to provide for meeting the losses of the Hospital Board in the stricken area, according to Mr C. O. Morse, chairman of the Hospital Board, who spent two days in Wellington this week. The proposed measures, Mr Morse stated this morning, should be very satis factory to all parties concerned. The Boards affected were the Hawke's Bay, Wairoa, Waipawa, Waipukurau and Dannevlrke bodies. The suggestion put to the Prime Minister and the Central Control Committee by Mr Morse was that all relief funds should be disposed by the hospital and charitable aid boards, especially the grants for personal needs, such as food and clothing. It is contended by Mr Morse that the Boards were fitted to undertake this work, and he also pointed out that their scope embraced the whole of the population of the affected area. While in Wellington, Mr Morse, together with Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., made representations to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. S. G. Smith, who is also chairman of the Unemployment Board, that an extension should be granted for the disposal of the £SOOO granted the Napier Unemployment Committee, for expenditure in Napier and Hastings. Further moneys to keep the people of this district in employment were also asked for. It is hoped that the decision on these two points will be received within a few days. NAPIER ANGLICAN CHURCHES. By Telegraph —Press Association GISBORNE, March 21. The Bishop of Waipu states that the the Napier telegram with reference to the position of the churches is inaccurate. A proposal has been made to erect a temporary building to hold 400 to 500 people, which will cost a good deal more than stated. No plan has yet been formulated for the re-erection of a permanent Cathedral, the mention of ten years being purely guesswork. With regard to the diocesan buildings, the cost will run into thousands, but the survey is not yet complete. St. Augustine’s has not yet been repaired, and is very far from fit for use.