EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11130, 13 February 1930, Page 7

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

PROCRFSS .OF COMMITTEE WORK. GRANTS ALREADY AUTHORJSKI; TOTAL f 73.2-16. (Press Association.; ROTORUA. Feb. 12. Tin- Rt. ifon. the Prime Minister, as chairman of the Central Earthquake Committee, made the following statement, briefly indicating the progress of relief measures in cbnnectioiij with the earthquake: “At "hist meeting of the Central Earthquake Committee grant* totalling £51,432 Ss Id fur the repair of earthquake damage were authorised. The committee had previously authorised grants amounting to £2420 Ms Bd.No that the total authorities at the date of the last meeting or the committee were £53.853 2s 9d. Tiie executive committee wiu appointed to deal with any other application.--. that might be received and. up to the present, the executive has authorised grants amounting to £10,313 IK od. Thus tiie total grants authorised by the Central Earthquake Committee tor the repair of earthquake damage to property. a* distinct from expenditure connected with refugees’ allowances to settlers on account of loss of access and pensions for widows' dependents of persons killed during the earthquake, amounts to £73-240 17s 2d.

‘‘Applications lor assistance are ..till being received irom some of the district committees and are being dealt with by the executive of the central .committee, and in addition the executive is investigating complaints that have been made regarding the insuliieiency ot assistance already granted. When these matters are finalised a meeting of the (.mural Fartliquake Committee will he held.

“In regard to those eases where settlers are unable through lurk ui road access to work their farms, the committee has authorised the payment- of allowances until such times a-, road access is restored. Allowances amounting to approximately L’SO per week are at present being pai<l. and it is impossible at the moment to determine the total amount that will lie required on this accrue.

“Concerning the question ot assistance for widows and dependants of persons killed during the ■earthquake. the -committee, at its last meeting, resolved to request the Commissioner ol Pensions to investigate and report as to what provision would be reasonable to make out of the relief fund on this account. The report of the Commissioner will he eonsidored at the next meeting of the committee. It is probable that approximately .920,0(10 trill Fe required for tlie purpose of providing fer the widows and dependents ot those who lost their lives as the result of the earthouake. “The foregoing .summary does not provide for the whole ol the charges on the Central Fund, but covers only the' authorities definitely issued by the Central Committee. The iund lias to meet the charges incidental to the care of refugees from ailected areas immediatelv following the disturbance. In addition to this, authority was given for repairs up to bin to be carried out in the Bidler and Karamea districts without reterem*e to the Central Committee, and the total expenditure under those headings is at present uncertain. A full statement of the fund ainl the commitments thereto will, luv\N*\er, 1, 0 olaced Inhere Jjhe Central Committee at its next meeting.