GISBORNE'S CLAIM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 339, 28 September 1932, Page 5

GISBORNE'S CLAIM

(Press- Assn.-

DIFFICULT PLIGHT OF TOWN AND DISTRICT NOT REALISED * MEETING OF CITIZENS

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght)

Gisborne, Tuesday. _ The people of Gisborne were given an unpleasant reminder today that earthquakes Had ndt ceased. A short sbarp shock was experienced a;t 4.20 p^m. and a slight ...shock at 6.18 p.m. With a view to seeking assista;mce from the people of New Zealand and from , the Government in connection with the recent earthquakes, a meeting of Ieading business men and citizens was held today, aboiit. 100 heing present. The lilayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P. presided. Mr. Cofleman said that a number of residents had suff ered serious losses as the result of the 'quakes. Never before had such d catastrophe overtaken the town. He was particularly struc'k, when in Wellington to find that there was a general impression that the earthauake damage appeared to he ahout Wairoa. There was little said about Gisborne. He did not wish to belittle the damage at Wairoa, but it seemed to him that the people in other parts especially in Wellington, hardly realised that the 'quakes had been felt in Gisborne. The True Fosition The people appeared to be of the opinion that if a 'quake had been felt here it had not affeeted the town to any considerable extent. This attitude had not been adopted by the Government and an inspection of the affeeted areas had been ordered, but if Gisborne was to benefit from the national fund, then it was necessary that the people in Wellington and other places should be advised of the true position locally. AI1 present realised the serious consequences of the 'quakes, and they would agree that Gisborne merited a just share of any relief offering, and it was up to the people of Gisborne to let the rest of New Zealand know ahout their plight. Goninuing, Mr. Coleman emphasised that he particularly wished to express to the people the necessity of doing something for themselves. A committee had been set up to deal with replacing chimneys and tanks as *far as possible. No more money, however, was available from the Government. As the only fund at the disposal of the committee^ was money provided by public subscription with that limited finance, therefore, it was impossible for the committee to assist any but the necessitous cases. Uhtil the committee knew that further funds would be available they could not extend their activities. Resolution Passed The Mayor's remarks were endorsed by Mr. Charles Matthews, chairman of the Cook County Council, Mr. H. D. Maude, deputy Mayor and leading citizens, and the following resolution was passed unanimously: "That this meeting of business men and townspeople request immediate financial assistance be granted by the Government to those Who suffered loss by damage caused by the recent earthquake." A committee was set up to gather fuller information in regard to the losses. One reliable estimate had been given that the amount would be well over £100,000. Mr. Maude said that many people in Gisborne are near bankruptcy as the result of the 'quake, and anything that could be done to help thenx would be appreciated. The Mayor said that the time appeared fitting for urging some form of national insurance againSt 'quakes. It was an imm-ediate matter in the House, and the Prime Minister had promised to look into it to-day. 'Quake insurance preminxns were very heavy, so heavy that many people had been forced to allow their policies to lapse and were unptotected at the time of the recent disaster. It was Gisborne's turn to-day, but no one knew whose turn it would be to-morrow. Mr. Maude endorsed Mr. Coleman's remarks and said the revenue from fire insurance was about £2,000,000 per anhum; 2| per cent. of that sum would be £50,000. If such a sum could be set aside annually and if there were no 'quake disasters for a few years, a substantial capital could be obtained quickly. A motion was carried to the effect that the time had arrived for the Government to; initiate some scheme of earthquake insurance whereby relief could be granted in case of damage occurring.