COST OF RECENT DISASTERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22430, 17 June 1938, Page 11

COST OF RECENT DISASTERS

Survey by the Mon. R. Semple USE OF MACHINERY ON MAJOR WORKS Some idea of the cost to the owßtjT of the recent major disasters throughout the Dominion was given to gathering of local body officials who met the Minister for Transport <the Hon. R. Semple) at Akaroa yesterday. “We have had some terrible knocks recently,” said Mr Semple. “In. Si hours I committed the Government

for more than £BO,OOO at the recent Taranaki floods. I' had to do it; bsat £BO,OOO is a lot of money- That terrible tragedy on the Napler-Gisberse route, where 21 of the best fellows tet the world lost their lives, has cost the Government £IOO.OOO. The damage to roads, railways, and bridges in the Hawke’s Bay floods has already accounted for £400.000. and the full extent of the damage to the farms cannot be known for a long time.

“Then, the recent trouble down in the Sounds has cost us a lot of money, although I cannot say at present what the amount is likely to be. Finally. £18,500 worth of damage was done in the Hauraki Plains in one night.** saM Mr Semple. An account of what he had done to help these who had suffered. In the Hawke's Bay floods was given by Mr Semple. He had had an aerial survey made of the district, and had had food distributed to the settlers from the air. His engineers had told hire that it would take seven months to clear a temporary route from Kapler to Gisborne. “I told them this was much too long. They hr d to get it through in toe quickest possible time. I got hold of ill the machinery in the North Island, taking some away from other jobs, and 1 bought 3pme new machines. 1 got that job through in six weeks." Mr Semple also briefly* touched on what the Government had dene _in opening up access for back country farmers. A survey showed that there were approximately GQOO miles of roads needing forming, reforming g metalling, and the approximate cost would be something about £S,OOOJBOt. Last year 1500 miles bad been treated at a cost of £500.000. These facts, and many others; Mr Semple claimed, showed the great advantage in using mechanical means for these works. The lot of Use men was much easier with the machines to do the hard work and the geniuses to direct them. With the doubleended pick and the long-handled shovel men were soon worn cut. *T have never heard a £ anyone laughing himself to death wheeling a wheelbarrow,” he concluded.