RAETIHI RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 163, 30 March 1918, Page 3

RAETIHI RELIEF

PLANS OF ORGANISATION STATEMENT BY HON. D. H. CUTHRIE. ! Regarding the relief that is being so generously afforded the firc-iifected area from nil parts of tho Dominion, ■ tho Hon. ]). M. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, lias made the following statement regarding its distribution, etc. :— Immediately it was ascertained thatgeneral relief would be required a meeting of settlers and residents was held at Raetihi, which appointed a pielimiimry executive body, consisting of the chairman of t-he.' Raetihi Town Board, the member for the district, the chairman of the Waimarino County Council, and the Mayor of. Ohakune, to deal with the receipt of all relief funds and material, until such time as a properly constituted body could be set up. At a. further meeting held at R-aetihi en March 21,, at which the Minister of Lands was present, the committee advising this executive was strengthened by the addition of several names, making it fully representative of all parts of the affected area. Tho actual work of distributing goods and material was taken in hand by a contingent of workers, consisting pf the - local clergy, a number of residents, Auckland and Wellington representatives of the Salvation Army, and representatives of the i'.M.C.A., who are giving absolute satisfaction to all concerned. On the receipt of the grant of £500 from the Government and of various sums from different parts of the Dominion, it was recognised that a larger executive committee was required so .that it would be representative of every part of the affected area, and at a public meeting held at Raetihi, at which the Minister was present, the following were appointed to administer the funds:—•Messrs. E. J.. Barry, Mayor of Ohakuue (chairman); E. H. M'Kenzie, manager Bank of N.Z., Raetihi; W. H. Tustin, solicitor, llaetihi; R. Sigley, Raetihi; A. W. .Ashwell, Raetihi; T. A. Harris, Ractihi; W. J. G'bbs, postmaster, Raetihi; H. Mersoii, Raetihi; —. Morris, Horopito ; H. Jenkins, Raetihi; J. D. Harris, Farmers' Union, Ohakune;' —. Scar ; row, settler; A: O'Neill, settler; —. Gorries Rangataua; L. Berge, Horopilo; J. Griffin, Salvation Artny, Raetihi (secretary); P. G. Smith, chairman, Town Board; Rev. Minifio, Raei tihi. -....-. I This committee continued to do I splendid work, but at a public meeting held at Raetihi on March 27, at wliicJr .were present,the Minister of Lands (Hon. D. H. Guthrie), the chairman of.the National Efficiency Board (Mr. W. Ferguson), and Mr. T. Moss, a member. of the National Efficiency Board,, it was decided, on the recommendation of Mr. Ferguson, to set up a legally constituted trust society, to be known as the Waimarino Fire Relief Association, and to be registered under the provisions of the Incorporated Societies Act', IBOS. The objects, of the association will be— (a) The relief and benefit of art ' or any persons who have been deleteriously affected by tho fires which swept portion of the Waimarino' County in. tho month of March.'l9l3. ■ (b) The collection and receipt of such funds , and goods as have been subscribed and collected within the Dominion of New Zealand for any of the purposes set forth in paragraph (a). (c) Tho / general adniiiiistrnlinn of all the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b). ...The .management of•tho affairs of the association are to be vested in an, executive committee, consisting of —(<i) Two persons to be nominated by the Government, (b) The three trustees for the time being of the National Efficiency Board for the Raetihi district, (c) Two ministers of religion, to be. chosen at a meeting of the ministers of "the district, (d) The chairman oftlioßaritihi Town Board, (e)-One ; person to bfi nominated by the Waimarino County Council, (f) Three persons; being residents of the districts, affected by the fires, to .bo elected at a public meeting" convened by the chairman of the Raetihi Town Board and duly advertised, (g) Two persons to bo selected by the abovenamed committee. A committee has besn appointed consisting of Messrs. Tustin, T. A. Harris, Waldegravo, Barry, Signell, and R. C. H. M'Kenzie, to draw up rules for the association's consideration and adoption, and to take the necessary steps to have the association registered under the Act. ' ■ It was resolved that it be a recommendation to this committee to proyied inter alia:—(a) Provision fer the winding up of tho association before April 1, 1923. (b)" Provision that the surplus funds of the association in hand on the winding up , of the association shall be paid to the Public Trustee, with power to pay the same, with the consent of the- Governor-'Genei'al-in-Couii-cil, to any object of a similar nature. One of the most active of the workers in connection with the relief measures that have been organised has been the member for the district, Mr. R. W. Smith, who was or. the'first of tho commiUees that havo had to ; do with the business. To represent the Government and to see that the Government supplies are administered on proper business lines, Mr. l< 1 . Sandford. of the Lands Department, has been sent to Raetihi. Hp will control the distribution of seed to the settlers, and will take from the settlers who require it declarations and their promissory notes on behalf of the Government. Mr. Guthrie cons : ders it advisable to make this announcement so that the different committees throughout the Dominion, who are working in the interests of tho fire-affected settlers, will know that tho money and goods going forward to the district will • be dealt with by a properly-constituted body, which will see that the relief is dis-' tributed to the best advantage possible.

Y.M.O.A. party. Mr. M'Eldowney is particularly impressed by the splendid service of the Salvation Army office:s, men and women, under the command of Brigadier Carmichacl. of Auckland. Six Army carpenters have been placed at thy disposal of the local lielief Committee- for a month, in fact, so long as they are required. Of tho disaster, while, the first news was very much exaggerated, yet the actual loss has been very heavy. • In tho town about 50 houses have been wiped out. and about the-same number . in the surrounding district, besides a number.of bushmen's camps. The Mangaituroa Valley is a scene of desolation, the whole valley having been .iwept by the cyclone and fire, and the loss of stock very severe. It was in this vallov three Tiersons lost their lives. "What a fine and prosperous town R-netihi must have been before the fire," is the comment of nearly all visitors. Although Rnetihi is now having a had time. a. brieht future is ahead. There is no evidence of tho peoulo being downhearted—thn. sympathy and practical assistance Iwth by individuals and the Government has given them fresh heart. One and all are loud in their praise of_ the plunk ami heroism of the wcnier in th" f,ae n of diro dancer. Although financial and monetary matters are outside Mr. M'Eldowney's department, vet ho understands monei' is boinfj lih»rn!ly contributed from all sources, find +he ropimittees hone to be able to call n halt "ns thpv Iwvo no iviVh to exploit th» penernsity of the ymW'''. unnecessaniv." Mr. Ferguson and Mr. Mnss, of the Ivfficienov Board, have p;>><! rn official visit, ami have expressed tVir nnprovnl with* the way in which relief matters am being man a owl. Tn the Mnynr of Ohnlmno the TJeIW Committee have an irlonl ch.'virmnn. and the member for the 'listrict. Mr. R. W. Smith, i>!. to ?ay the least, a. very busy mnn. The Mayors of v tne various centres hnvo been notified that wi**i a few exc»r>tions further contributions in clothing is not required.