RAETIHI FIRES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 210, 24 May 1918, Page 4

RAETIHI FIRES

«~ DISBURSEMENT OF RELIEF MONEYS. The time is approaching when it will be possible for the Government to bring to completion, its contemplated action for the relief of the settlers who were burned out of house and homo in the Raetihi bush fires. The iocal distributing committees set up to deal with claims for relief are now ready to use moneys as soon as they can bo made available. There will have to be a little delay about the disbursement of tho money, but tins is unavoidable.

Tho Hon. D. 11. Guthrie and tho Lands Department have lieen in chargo of tho business from the beginning. It will bo the duty of tho Lands Department, to organiso tho distribution of the money voted by the Government. As nobody knows yet what claims are to be mado on tho limited funds available, tho Minister intends to.ask for applications from the distributing committees. These will oomp forward as recommendations from the committees, and thcro will lie officers of the Lands Department in the locality to report on them. As soon as these claims have beer}-received it will bo possible ' for the Minister of Lands and his officers to make recommendations to tiio Treasury 'or the disposal of the money voted by tho Government. But it will be necessary before those recommendations can be made that all the applications shall bo in the hands of tho, Minister of Lands.