£133,000 SPENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20172, 26 February 1931, Page 10

£133,000 SPENT.

the relief funds. _ ' ■■' r CENTRAL EXECUTIVE CONCERNED. FREE SUPPLIES OF PETROL. [THE SRBSfI 8p««lal Service.] WELLINGTON, February 2u. gome concern W ; aS expressed at a meeting of tho Earthquake Executive in Wellington to-day when it was reported that the greater portion of the amount subscribed to the National Earthquake Belief Fund had been spent, and that a great number of refugees have to be housed, clothed, and fed for some time to come. The need for pressing forward tho rehabilitation of homes and for assisting business peoplo to recommence buainoss in Hawko's Bay was also stressed. Tho City Treasurer reported that the Mayor's fund totalled ©82,203, and that tho newspaper lists increased the amount to, £38,241 16s. Of that sum £28,563 Ba 9d had been paid to the public account. The outgoings totalled &IJ7B Is Bd. The Mayor explained that the Prime Minister's fund \of £170,000 included the amount paid in from the Mayor's fund. In addition, Wellington had given generously in food, clothing, medical supplies, etc. Wellington had given tho greatest assistance of any centrO in tho Dominion, as many firms liad, in addition to dona* tions, given £IOO worth of blankets, food, or similar gifts. The members of tho Automobile Gltib had also spent some thousands in petrol for transport services.

In the courso of discussion, the Mayor suggested that a committee bo set up to devise means of setting, up business owners in the stricken area. Groups of different businesses may undertake to aid their follows in Hawke's Bay. . Mr Chapman, M.P., said that' if £200,000 had been collected only about £40,000 remained. Up to a few days ago £133,000 had been spent by the Government. Pwe.BettoL

"I havehad streams of people coining in here for free petrol, " wdd tho' Mayor. "Wo have not given a gallon of petrol to these poeple because they have ho right- to come here, in-ears when trains are there to bring them down. Other districts have been given free petrol and free food tableß. AH the people who went into the district were getting their' food 'ftfee. Unless, there is a curb on the jrto.ney.at headquarters you will seo where thousands are going to.?' A question was asked, if it were true that £IO,OOO was spent at Palmdrstotl North, and the Mayor said he heard that Palmerston North was making ft claim on the' Government. ,

% Evacuation of Napier, Mr B. Semple, M.P,, asked what the Government ■ *was going to do in the future? .If most of the money was gone it might be a calamity. One of tho mistake# hiade was the general ordei; to evacuate Napier. Several .people ' said they did not want to come-away,-but cars went up'to their, doors and took them away. The -scare was great and there was a general exodus, but there was ito need for strong men to have left. He,-congratulated the Mayor upon the stand he had taken regarding petrol supplies, adding that the amount given away on the road between Palmerston North and Napier would surprise every, one. Before the trains started there were scores of people obtaining petrol who should never have had a gallon. The whola thing was abused. Mr Semple added.that on returning'from Napier he passed (fully 4000 cars between' Napier lind Palmerston North* The .read, was like the Hutt foad on a* raco daA ' - It was agreed that tho Government should be asked to make a statement with regard to'the funds, and the-Mayor said he would consider the question of calling a meeting of .business men for the purpose of establishing ■ soino of the business men in Napier and Hastings in a small Way. / ,

A QUESTION TO MR FORBES,

[THE PUBIS Bp#ci*l flenlce.] WELLINGTON, February 25. - \Vhen tho attention of , the Prime Minister was-drawn last evening to the statements suggesting that the Central Fund was almost exhausted, Mr Forbes was not in a position to say what the expenditure, had been. He. had not yet had any statement of accounts, and it was impossible for him to say 1 at the moment what money had been ,expended. Nothing had come-out of the hind so far as the Government was concerned. *,