Mr Kirk Attacks “Deficiencies”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31653, 13 April 1968, Page 14

Mr Kirk Attacks “Deficiencies”

“Civil defence needs an urgent re-examination and a pretty sharp shake up if last night’s sorry episode is not to be repeated,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) last evening.

He was commenting on his visits to flooded areas in Sumner and along the Heathcote River where several homes were evacuated.

“In spite of strenuous efforts over a long period of time during the previous day, members of various organisations were ready and willing to turn out last night, but they were not called,” Mr Kirk said.

“I am deeply disturbed at the deficiencies of communication and the apparent Ir.ck of initiative in the central i controlling area. “Last night I arrived on the, plane from Wellington at 1.151 a.m. I left by car immediately | to visit flooded areas in and) around my electorate. I travelled through St Martins,, Opawa, Woolston, Ferry Road, Mount Pleasant, Redcliffs, and Sumner and back through all these areas, which were seriously flooded, and never caught sight of a soul until we reached Waimea Terrace. "I was astounded. The river had broken its banks, it was raining as hard as I had ever seen in Christchurch, the tide was rising and it was obvious that more houses were going to be flooded. There was no Civil Defence organisation,” Mr Kirk said. Seven Men “I travelled on back through ■ St Martins and in a matter of three hours met five policemen and two army personnel. At Clarendon Terrace I met a police officer wading waist deep up the road knocking people up to warn them of the position and to offer evacuation. He was accompanied by an army vehicle piloted by a driver. At that time these two men were the only persons in a seriously flooded area. “At Sumner, where the water was rising and it was obvious that more houses] would be flooded, I could] locate no-one. “I discovered that about 25 i persons had been evacuated: and some would be going to the Mount Pleasant Commun-! ity Centre. “This seemed to suggest, that they were being taken to a previously prepared station but this was not so. What few comforts were initially provided were available due to the excellent work of the police and army personnel and Red Cross representatives but no previous preparation was evident

“At this time no City Council works vehicles had been sighted nor Civil Defence officials. It was obvious that a lot of people were going to have water In their homes and that some of them who had gone to sleep with their homes high and dry were going to wake up to waterlogged houses and spoiled floor coverings and furnishings. “Though the police, army and air force people had been wonderful and had done everything they could, it was clear that the numbers in the flood areas were totally inadequate. No Answer “At this point I decided to try to get in touch with the Civil Defence people. The only telephone number attributed to a Civil Defence office in the Christchurch telephone directory was in an office that was unmanned. “It was only after approaching the police that they were able to look up and give me the number of the Christchurch Civil Defence officer, whom I then rang and got out of bed. “It became at once apparent that the Civil Defence officer had no information, nor was he up to date with the position that had developed. 1 wonder what earthly use an emergency organisation can be that only has a telephone number which the public can ring during office hours,” said Mr Kirk. “After this call an increased number of service personnel, Army and Air Force, appeared on the scene. Between 5.30 a.m and 6 a.m. a control point in the flood area was opened for the first time, in the Waltham swimming pool buildings. A little later one was established at Mount Pleasant. "By this time, fortunately, the rain had eased, the high tide had passed and the river levels had stopped rising. “In my view there is every reason to be thoroughly dissatisfied with such a Civil Defence performance. It had | available to it a lot of people ; in various organisations who I woud have been only too willling to have turned out.

“Surely it would have been better for Civil Defence to be ready and not needed than to be needed and incommunicado, if not asleep. The city has spent a lot of money on what it fondly believes to have been effective steps to meet an emergency and it certainly deserves better and more effective protection than it was afforded last night.

Admiration “I want to make it clear that I have the highest admiration for the work of those splendid fellows in the police and the services who, soaking wet and in the bitter cold, did everything and, in fact, more than could be reasonably expected of them,” said Mr Kirk. “Notwithstanding that it had been decided to leave it to the police, in my view there was a strong and compelling duty for the controlling officer to independently keep a watch on developments and to take whatever steps were needed as they were needed in the worsening situation,” Mr Kirk said. .