PREMIER APPALLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 17, 21 January 1939, Page 13

PREMIER APPALLED

VICTORIAN FIRE DAMAGE

70 DEAD AND TWO MISSING

SALVAGE EFFORTS

(By Telegraph-—Press Association—Copyright.)

MELBOURNE, January 20

An official check of casualties in the bush fires shows that 70 persons lost their lives and that two are still missing, believed dead. So widespread were the fires tliat deaths occurred in 19 distinct areas.

The Premier, Mr. A. A. Dunstan, returning from a two-day inspection of the fire areas, said legislation to compel the construction of safety dug-outs at mills in all timber areas and the concentration of mill workers

in model townships would be considered shortly.: Mr. Duiistan said he was appalled at the extent of the damage seen on his 500-mile tour.

Every effort will be made to salvage as much of the burnt timber as possible, but it.is apparent that £1,000,000 will not cover the loss of beautiful forests. '

"For the third time we will build Noojee, bigger and better than ever," [said a spokesman in the town when Mr. Dunstan arrived there. "Noojee will rise again; from the ashes." PREPARING TO REBUILD. ~ Many residents of burnt-out towns are already camped, preparing to rebuild. One mill owner told the Premier that before the fire there were 800,000,000 superficial- feet of timber available in the Tanjil^ district. Much could be saved if cut immediately, but the former mill site was useless. Roads and new tramways were needed.

The Government's policy for restoring the mill industry will be considered shortly.

The latest relief fund figures show that £105,000 has been raised, and much more is still to come. It was decided today that the fund be used only for relief, and not compensation, replacement, or rehabilitation.