Nothing Definite Yet for Quake Relief

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 700, 27 June 1929, Page 8

Nothing Definite Yet for Quake Relief

COMMITTEE’S WORK PRIME MINISTER’S REPLY < THE SV * S Parliav*entiir<j I, po r ltr J W ELLINGTON. Wednesday Nothing can be done definitely i to relieve the sufferer* j n the ' West Coast earthquakes until th. committee to supervise the alio cation of the relief funds is set UD " and the amount of money avaik able is known. This, said Mr. J. O'Brien, of land was the answer given him by th« Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, when approached on thj question of granting immediate fitnj. cial assistance to those whose hom« have been damaged or wrecked ™ It has been suggested that the com mittee comprise the Mayors of th four leading cities, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of the Treasure’ and other Government officials ” Mr. O'Brien is pressing for’iron,,, diate action, and says that Grevmouth is hit harder financially than an'v other town on the West Coast, despite greater severity of the earthquake sr Westport, Nelson and Murchison. ** MANY FACTORS MR. COATES INSPECTS DAMAGE PEOPLE VERY MUCH SHAKE** ~ Press NELSON, On his arrival by the Arahura from Westport this afternoon, the Righi Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the C'ppo. sition, who has been inspecting earthquake damage at Westport, said the people of Westport appeared very much shaken after their experience A relief comlttee had been organised! and matters were generally getting back to more normal conditions. ” Asked if he would express an opinion as to the suggestion that the relief funds should be collected bv a ceo . tral executive, Mr. Coates ’said ha would not like to offer an opinion at this stage, as details were so meagre. There were so many factors to bej taken into consideration, and a {or. mula would have to be worked on; which would be fair to all parties concerned, to sufferers both in the towns and in the country districts affected. He did not doubt that a scheme would be worked out. Mr. Coates expresesd the opinion tha; now was the time to start reconstrur. tlon work, and get right ahead with it. In the meantime, he advocated business as usual.