FLOOD DAMAGE IN TARANAKI

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21715, 24 February 1936, Page 10

FLOOD DAMAGE IN TARANAKI

INSPECTION BY MR SEMPLE

FIRST VISIT OF LABOUR MINISTER

U'RKSS ABSOCIITION TELIGEAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 23. The first visit to Taranaki of a member of the Labour Cabinet was made by the Hon. R. Semple (Minister for Public Works) over the week-end. The Minister was paying a hurried visit to inspect flood damage in the Egmont county. Mr Semple was given an unusually enthusiastic civic reception in Eltham on his arrival last night. Yesterday he spent a full day viewing wrecked badges and washouts around Opunake, accompanied by Mr C. A. Wilkinson, the member for Egmont, departmental officials, and local body members. A visit was paid in the afternoon to the New Plymouth airport, where Mr Semple was welcomed by the Mayor, Mr E. R. C. Gilmour, and shown the aerodrome. Later he was taken in an aeroplane by the instructor of. the areo club, Mr lan Keith, to view the land it is proposed to include in the aerodrome area.

Mr Semple and his party vere guests at the Dawson Falls Hostel,

Mount Egmont, for lea, and reurncd In Eltham for the night. Mr Sernple will receive local body deputations at Eltham m the morninff, at Hawera and Waverley in the afternoon, and at Wanganui in the evenhm.