‘Fighting fund’ set up by slip victims

Press, 17 August 1979, Page 4

‘Fighting fund’ set up by slip victims

PA Dunedin A fighting fund has been started by the newly formed Abbotsford Landslip Residents’ Committee. Residents are being asked for a preliminary contribution of at least $lO. The committee spokesman, Mr D. Holmes, said the fund had been started to finance the committee’s efforts in obtaining independent engineers’ reports, lobbying for changes in landslip legislalatioh regarding property compensation, and preparing submissions to the Commission of Inquiry. It was staffed with $lOO from Mr J. Mitchell, pastor of the Gfeefi Inland Baptist Church. The committee believed residents had no confidence in the engineers who were to report to the authorities on the stability of land on the west side of Christie Street, said Mr Holmes. “They have lost confidence in the CiVil Defence control of the Situation,” he said. "the first priority of the committee Will be to get independent verification Of the engineers' reports before we will endorse any decision allowing residents of the controlled area west of Christie Street to return home,” Mr Holmes said. Two telegrams have been sent by the committee to Ministers of the Crown.

One to the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) said that the i residents were concerned that ! the commission of inquiry ■ “may not encompass all fac--1 tors” relative to their areas of concern and complaint. It ■ advised the Minister to consult the committee before ; terms of reference were fin- ; ally set. The Minister of Civil De- . fence (Mr Highet) had been . sent a telegram expressing . the residents’ “extreme conr cem” about his answers on , a TVI “Datelihe Monday” ' programme. These answers, said the 1 residents, did hot endorse the ’ assurances they were given '■ by the Minister at a residents* meeting on August 10. Mr Highet’s answers “sug- ' gested political evasion” and gave "little hope or comfort 'to evacuated residents,” ' according to the message; ’ Engineers and geologists . working on the slip have said j that although it has been described as essentially stable > it does not mean that no fur- . ther movements are expected. ! In the last few days, sev- : eral new cracks have devel- . oped in the block round ■ Christie Street. ! The Civil Defence group ’ controller (Mr D. L. Wood) said the cracks were relai tively minor settlements > which should assist the overall stability of the slip.