NELSON RELIEF COMMITTEE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 27 July 1929, Page 7

NELSON RELIEF COMMITTEE

RESTORATION WORK ATS MURCHISON

MR STRINGER’S APPOINTMENT

A meeting of the Nelson. General Relief Committee was held at tlvo Council' Chamber late yesterday afternoon. There were present: The Mayor (Mr W.'J■' Moffatt), the Town Clerk (Mr G. A. Ed*. monds), Councillors S. A. Gibbs, H.' T Er. A. Washbourn, F. W. Huggins,'-and-Geo. Page, and Messrs W. Waters (Com-; missioner .of Crown Lands),' O’Donnell(Public Works Department),_ F. W. O. - Smith (chairman of tho Hospital-Board), J. Fitzgerald (District Public Trustee),'and the Hon. IV. W. Snodgrass, M.L.CP A letter was received from the Farmers’ Union approving of the suggestion that the Government undertake the valuation of damaged farm properties. r -' The Mayor mentioned that several sums of money had been contributedwith a condition attached that . they, should be used for immediate relief and not as part of any central fund. A resolution was passed that such monies be kept separate for the purpose for. which they were contributed., • j SUPERVISOR’S REPORT • The Supervisor (Mr J-.- A. Stringer)--of the committee’s work at Murchisonreported that up to the previous' d&y.46d houses Had been completed at a cost of £IBO, that lie was working : on eightmore, and that according to the- list diehas the work will be completed, within * eight or nine days. He was complete list of all jobs done, find- thecost of each. -~n '- - , *•*

Some discussion followed .the presents-, lion of the report. It was stated.that a small section, of the public appearedcriticise the committee’s action probably - being unaware of the onerous: and-re-sponsible duties of the supervisor. '"Thfi' appointment and remuneration were un-i----animously fixed at a full meeting of the-' committee at which tho representatives were present. The opin- ■ ion was expressed that the committee' was fortunate in getting a man of Mr Stringer’s experience to carry out the'; work. It was pointed out that-Mr Stringer lias not only to supervise" but, has a»o to get his gangs together, par-' cel out the work, make out estimates,., purchase materials, organise and) lay' out the details, provide his own. clerical, assistance, and as a matter of fact, has taken and is paying for a hand from his, own works. He is also responsible" ioF" reports to and expenditure on behalf of. the Relief Committee. It was'Algt)' s.tafF* ed that the criticism ip the press was to get something done quickly.' Tills com-., mittee was doing that. Mr) Stringer'also) bad to sacrifice some of his c»\yn! inter-/ ests in order to fall in with the’ wishes of the committee as the Government was unable at the time to undertake the work. Had the Public Works Department been at liberty to take the Work _ in hand it would have saved this com ; - mittee a lot of time and trouble, Jt was reported to> the committee that* the., Murchison people had expressed great' satisfaction with the Nelson..CqnTfiiit-'’ tee’s action and the fine and rapid work being carried out under Mr Stringer-, It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Gibbs, seconded by Council--lor Huggins, that Mr Stringer’s report be published. A letter was received from the Central Committee as to arrangements for tho supervision of restoration being undertaken by the Public Works Department. A resolution was passed, on the motion of the Hon. W, W. Snodgrass, seconded by Councillor Washbourn, that the' Central Committee be thanked for their letter and informed .that the.'Nelson-; Committee approves of their decision in’, connection with the partial restoration! af dwellings in the valleys -on-t-he- -same lines as is being done in : Murchison." It. was further, resolved that .the Can A tral Committee be informed that up to - (lie present the Murchison Committee; had acted as an advisory board to the) committee, but that the Nelson Com-!: mittee is willing that it should act as an executive committee as suggested by the; Central Committee’s letter, and suggesting that the Central Committee should’ communicate direct with the Murchison' Committee on the matter, and that- the! Nelson Committee would appreciate a) weekly progress report of the. Work done) and the cost incurred. "j It was resolved that a copy of Mr' Stringer’s report be forwarded to the! Central Committee. - . A letter from Mr W. C. Harley, solicitor, inquiring what policy the Central! Committee intends to adopt with regard to compensation for earthquake losses, was read. The letter also contained sev-; eral questions on points of policy which!the committee endorsed and directed tobe forwarded to the Central Committeewith an explanatory letter and. a..re-"' quest for a statement from the Central Committee as to their policy to bo made as speedily as possible. A .letter from Mr Hugh Fraser dealing with the form of declaration in support of claims for relief was 'read. A lengthy discussion took place and it was ultimately resolved that in tne opinion of this committee the declaration on the claim form is too stringent, and that an alternative fqrm af declaration should.be provided for cases in which very grave financial embarrassment ,ms TesuHcd, but which do not amount to practically total destitution.

Mr Eclmonds reported that a large number of claim forms had been >eeeived, and it was resolved that they bo hande.il to the Commissioner ::-f Crown Lands forthwith for his report.