EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1929, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF.

APPLICATIONS COMING IN slowly.: WELLINGTON, Septi - 18. ■ - Applications for assistance from, the Earuiquabe Relief Funds have' not been lodged as promptly as was anticipated !*/ the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) in the House, of Representatives to-day, in replying to,, Mr G. C. Black .(Government member for ittotueka), who asked when the next meeting of-the Central Relief Committee would be held. . . f ........ ... Sir Joseph Ward who is chairman of . the committee said the closing date of the receipt of applications had been extended to August 31st, and. the., com:. ( mittee had decided it would not be necessary to hold a meeting until arter tiiat date. It was tentativelyjlecided to hold a meeting on September 4th, but as applications had. not, been received from the' district committee by that date he had deemed it 1 advisable . to postpone tiie meeting. “The position at the moment is that only about twelve applications have been received from Westport, and none, from Karamea,’’ said Sir Joseph Ward. “About two-thirds of the applications received by the' Murchison Committee have been forwarded to the Central Committee and the bulk of the Nelson \ applications is also in hand. The original intention of the committee was to deal, with all aplications at the'onetime in order that the fund might be equitably distributed the idea being that the distribution could only be undertaken when the total assistance required was known. However, ,as this seems to be impossible of fulfilment. I propose to call a meeting of the committee for September 25th, when the position will be considered.