FLOOD HAVOC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 99, 29 April 1938, Page 11

FLOOD HAVOC.

ESTIMATE OF COST.

EAST COAST AREA.

IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

ACTION BY GOVERNMENT

(By Telegraph.— Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. An inspection from the air af flood damage in Hawke's Bay was made today by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who spent two hours over the affected country. On hie return to Wellington late in the afternoon Mr. Webb discussed the situation with the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, who announced that steps were being taken to investigate cases of hardship with a view to granting immediate relief. Both Ministers later reported to the Prim* Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage.

"I wish to express my own sympathy and that of the Government with the sufferers." said Mr. Savage. "Whatever ie humanly possible for the Government to do to relieve the situation will be done. More has to be done than to straighten out the present difficulties. We have to look at the future as well.

'"ft will be someone's job," added Mr. Savage, "to make a complete investigation of the disaster, with a view to preventing a recurrence in Hawke's Bay and avoiding similar things happening in other districts susceptible 1o flooding." Minister's Suggestion. Mr. Semple dispatched the following telegram to M r w Tj Newnhani, inspecting engineer of the Public Works Department, who is in Hawke's Bnv: —

"The magnitude of the disaster ie beyond anticipation. 1 suggest von get in touch at once with the Hon.* W. E. Barnard. M.P. for Napier, and Mr. K. L. Ciillen, M.P. for Hawke's Bay, and local body representatives, and advise them to form a relief committee whose job it will be to investigate all cases of hardship, with a view to (living immediate relief, and that you fake charge of the committee on behalf of the flovcrnment.

"I also suggest that you get into communication at once with the nir mapping officers at Hastings and instruct them to make an aerial survey of the damaged area, and forward ail information to this office as soon as possible. The Government will stand the cost.

"Tho.se people whose homes are affected may lie employed to clean up the surroundings to give access, the cost to be met by the Government. I have arranged for an aeroplane to proceed to Hastings to-morrow morning, and tliie will ho at your disposal for the delivery of foodstuff's."

In an interview this evening Mr. Seiuple said it was estimated,that the damage to Public Works roads and bridges, exclusive of that to railway lines and that suffered by the counties. was £200.000. That was a rough estimate, the result of a very hurried examination. The amount might be a gre«t deaj mom. It was impossible at present to estimate the damage to private property. "One of the Worst Calamities." The occurrence was one of tlie worst calamities that had befallen the Dominion, said Mr. Semple. and. from the point of view of loss of property, both public and private, the damage appeared to exceed that caused by the Nnpier earthquake. Eveiything humanly possible would be done to give immediate relief and to restore conditions to normal. Mr. Webb said no one could form any conception of the damage without inspection from the air. He felt sure many owners of hill land had no idea of the damage caused in the hack country. The flat parts of the Esk and Tangoio Valleys were completely submerged.