CLEARANCE OF THE STRICKEN AREA

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1931, Page 8

CLEARANCE OF THE STRICKEN AREA

Referring to the magnitude of the clearing ,work to be undertaken in Napier and Hastings, Mr^ William J. M'Keon writes: —"No '. one will question the organising , powers' of the Army and Navy- and the effects which- may be achieved by team work as esemS lifted by the work of the Naval Forces in [apier. i An eye-witness has stated that the efficient and disciplined way in which the Naval men went to work was a revelation and a practical illustration of -the effects of discipline and training. These observations have given birth to the- following suggestion:—That organised camps for the unemployed be established at Napier and Hastings, on strict military lines, rationing, housing^ and sanitation to receive special attention and. the men organised into companies and platoons, working parties to be detailed for given areas, salvage dumps established, and transport provided to take away useless materials. The Defence Department is still likely to possess considerable stores of equipment, and it would be quite possible to provide a number of senior officers from the'present establishment. These officers all possess considerable organising power and tho ability to handle men, while the ranks of the unemployed contain many ex-service men who are capable n.c.o.'s. It is f e]t that this scheme provides that no efficiency will be lost by haphazard methods aiid with the full co-operation of the Railway Department and all transport services, the concentration of a large army of men will be simplified. The funds of the' Unemployment Board and committees coulcl be put to no better use, serving the 'double purpose of'providing employment for those in need of it and giving assistance in straightening out the terrible havoc, which the earthquake has wrought. Most! of the devastated cities of the: war area have been reborn through long and patient effort, and there is no reason why the same efforts could not be put forth here."