EARTHQUAKE LOSSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 716, 16 July 1929, Page 8

EARTHQUAKE LOSSES

SETTLERS ASK FOR STATE AID COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGE (Special to THE S L’X ) NELSON, Monday. Waiting upon the Hon. H. Atmorc today a deputation from the New Zealand Farmers* Union and settlers in the earthquakestricken area made urgent requests for Government action in ' the reconstruction of communications, the restoration of destroyed property, and the payment of compensation to those suffering losses through the disaster, j The requests put forward by the ! deputation were as follow; I (1) That all roads, tracks, etc . be 1 opened up by the Government, the ! cost to be met out of the Consoli- ; dated Fund. ■ (2) That where broad acres have | been destroyed the Government comj pensate the owners for at least a por- ! tion of the loss. | (3) That where settlers have had to I vacate their holdings, the Government j contribute toward reinstating the seti tiers on other properties, j (4) That reinstatement of damaged I homes and contents, where required, j be paid out of the relief funds. (5) That a complete inventory of the total loss suffered be taken immediately, as time is an essential part of the proceedings, the loss in value of landed property to be assessed by two sets of two competent land valuers with local knowledge of the district. (6) That the assessment of losses in damage to buildings, furniture and domestic commodities be made by two competent valuers used to this class of work, one to be attached to each land valuers. (7) That the valuers be instructed to deal as most urgent with those cases where men have been badly hit, an d the assessment of losses in connection with these to v>e completed first and at once, the other cases to be dealt with according to urgency, and after the most necessitous cases are dealt with the whole district to be taken on a face value. (8) That the valuers fa) be instructed to inquire into and to report to the Central Committee concerning cases where ready money is urgently needed by any settler or person, so that payments may be made at once up to, say, £IOO, these payments to be treated as progress payments; (Ip) report which settlers cannot now exist on their holdings and if they require farms to live on locally or elsewhere: (c) report on forms which cannot be carried on as heretofore and which may be acquired by the Government to settle those families who have to vacate their present holdings; (d) to keep a look-out for farms which may be available for purchase at Government valuation and which may be suitable for settling those who cannot exist on their present holdings. (9) That where a mortgagee has suffered loss to the extent of seriously diminishing the source of his or her livelihood through loss of security caused by the earthquake, it be a recommendation that such mortgagee’s j position be investigated and compensation granted if necessary. DOING THE FAIR THING No money will be expended from the relief funds on the opening up of the roads, said Mr. Atmore. The matter was one entirely for the county councils and the Government to deal with. In answering clause No. 2, the Minister said this question had not been discussed in detail. The first step to be taken was to get a proper assessment of the damage, and then J the Central Relief Committee would be in a better position to see how far the funds would go. He realised that one of the first steps to be taken was to see that the houses were made habitable, so that the residents could return. The question of the losses suffered would be considered by the Central Committee. The telegrams which he had received urging that the Minister of Lands and the Minister of Public Works should visit the affected areas had been passed on to the respective Ministers, and he had also telegraphed the Prime Minister about the matter immediately upon his arrival in Nelson on Saturday. He was awaiting a reply. He recognised the necessity for such a visit. He could assure his hearers that there was a strong disposition on the part of the Central Committee to do the fair thing. Settlers of means could not expect to receive the same relief as those who ] had lost their all. First things would be dealt with first.