FLOOD RELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 18333, 21 July 1923, Page 3

FLOOD RELIEF

OVER £4,000 EXPENDED,

LAST PHASE ENTERED UPON,

A meeting of tbo Flood Eelief Executive, held yesterday afternoon in the Town Hall, was attended by Messrs ,T. S. Douglas (chairman), C. Todd, S. Dunkley, J. B. Waters, J. Haynes, C. Speight, F. ft. Gumming, Revs. V. G. B. King 'and G. E. Moreton, Mrs S. M. Park, and Miss Runciraan.

The Chairman slated that since the last meeting of the executive the work had been carried on by the sub-committee. It was for the executive to say what should be done in the future.

A statement of receipts and expenditure showed that the total receipts (with the Government’s subsidy) were £6,705, and , the total expenditure to date £4,089 4s, 1 leaving still available for distribution £2,645 16s. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. Mr Douglas then presented (lie following report of the work done since the flood: The problem of dealing with flood sufferers was one which presented peculiar difficulties. It was impossible during the earlier stages to estimate the numbers of sufferers, the damage done, or to form anytiiing but a vague idea of the funds which would be available to cope with the distress. It was essential, however, to formulate a plan of dealing with the various classes of claims which it was anticipated would be made on the funds. It was therefore decided to divide (ho work into three phases, these divisions being made according to the urgency of the claims, .and wore as follows: —(1) To supply food, clothing, bedding, and coal, and to attend to the comfort of_ families who wore compelled to leave their homes, (2) To assist towards reinstating losses of furniture and floor coverings. (3) To deal with claims from shopkeepers, gardeners, and owners of houses or property who had suffered loss ns a result of the flood, and, whore the circumstances of tho sufferers warrant, assistance being given. Relying on the generosity of the citizens of Dunedin, a central depot was opened at the. old Post Office building under the control of the Revs. Bryan King and G. E. Moreton, Ensign Coomhes controlling similar work at the Salvation Army. Volunteers were called for amongst the social workers and ministers of the various denominations to assist towards alleviating distress. Tire call met with a magnificent response, over thirty voluntary workers offering their services as area officers, a duty that was onerous and exacting. They undertook a systematic house-to-house canvass of tho flooded areas, noting the requirements of each family arid reporting to the. central depot. In tho meantime gifts of food and clothing poured into the depot. It would be invidious to single out any amongst tho wholesale or retail firms which gave freely of money or goods, or tho individuals who contributed so generously. Splendid service was rendered by many holds, boarding-houses, and private citizens in giving accommodation to Die homeless. The food and clothing were distributed as fast as they were received, each family, being dealt with in accordance with "the area officer’s recommendations, which were most comprehensive. After five weeks of continuous work, during which time 814 families were supplied with coal, beds, or blankets, the depot was dosed, the first onset being met by tho expenditure of £1,636 and the distribution of some hundreds of pounds’ worth of food and clothing. The second phase of the work—reinstatement of losses of linoleum and furniture—was then commenced. Here, again, the area officers responded to Die call, records were searched, houses were visited, both by area officers and members of the special committee. Meetings of the special committee were held from time to lime to consider what grants should bo made, and it is satisfactory to be able to report that this work has at last been completed, 730 cases being dealt with at an expenditure of £2,025. There now remains the third and last phase of the executive work—that is, to deal with applications from shopkeepers, manufacturers, gardeners, and owners of private dwellings which were injured by the flood. These losses have been verified as far as possible, and are submitted herewith for your consideration.

I would tako this opportunity to fxpiess on behalf of the executive our appreciation of the arduous -loi'k of (lie area officers mid of the ctaff of clerical workers at the central bureau who Hindered such signal service in those Dying times, and of the generosity of the subscribers to the fund, who made it possible for Hood sufferers to be dealt with in their time of need. Although so many willing workers carno forward and did excellent work, it was very gratifying to find the fine spirit of good-will that existed between the various workers, and the general result shows (hat the organisation was such that overlapping was eliminated. I may therefore bo permitted by our workers to express thanks for this In a. few of our number—llev. Bryan King, llev. G. K. Aloreton, Mr S. Dunkley, Miss Rundraan, Mrs Park, Mrs MTntyro, Mrs Barningham, Mi.-s Sullivan, and Miss Hanlon, who had charge of departments at the central bureau; Ensign Coombes. at the Salvation Army; Mr C. Todd, who controlled private accommodation ; Mr A. Paape, who controlled pub-lic-house accommodation; Air llalliday, the transport of families with motorists; and to Messrs C. Speight and E. A. llosevear, who have been associated with me throughout. When the second flood occurred your executive decided to appoint Air E. 11. Grace to act as its secretary. The appointment of a secretary became necessary owing to the vast amount of detail work which the distribution of the fund entailed and the impossibility of having it attended to at the Town Hall. 1 am pleased to be able to report that the work has been carried out in a methodical and highly satisfactory manner, complete records of every transaction being ti ed at his office. In conclusion I would add that wo arc now awaiting the'-Go-vernment subsidy, and immediately this is to hand the balance of the money will be distributed and the fund closed.

Air Douglas, in moving tho adoption of the report and the statement of receipts and expenditure, expressed appreciation of the arduous work of the area officers and of (he staff of clerical workers at the central bureau, who rendered such signal service in those trying times, and of tlre generosity of the subscribers to tho, fund, who made it possible Tor flood sufferers to be dealt with in their time of need. When the second Hood occurred tho executive decided to appoint Mr E. 11. Grace to act as its secretary, and hi.s work had been’ carried out in a highly satisfactory manner. The executive was now awaiting the Government subsidy, and immediately this was to hand the balance of (he money would bo distributed and the fund-closed.

The Rev. Mr King, in seconding the motion, said that they owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mr Douglas for tire splendid work he had done. If there were ever such a disaster again, he would find joy in working with Mr Douglas to overcome it. The report and the financial statement were adopted. DAMAGED PROPERTY. A list of shopkeepers, gardeners, and others whoso properties had suffered through the flood waters was submitted. The Chairman stated that the secretary (Mr Grace) had investigated almost every one of the cases. The Mayor of Port Chalmers had rung him up about a certain case, owing to Port Chalmers contributing in a general way to the fund. There were no cases at Green Island, and he was assured that there would be none. He suggested that the Port Chalmers case be referred to the committee to deal with, and this was agreed to. The question of adequately remunerating the secretary (Mr Grace) was referred io the Special Committee.