SPECIAL WORKERS’ EXPERIENCES

Evening Star, Issue 20129, 20 March 1929, Page 7

SPECIAL WORKERS’ EXPERIENCES

GREAT PRAISE FOR POLICE AND NAVAL MEN .'lmmediately it became apparent that parts of tho 'city would bo inundated, social workers and others made a tour of inspection, and urged people to vacate their homes before conditions became too bad. Many of the householders refused to leave, and later in the night they had practically to be forced to do so. Tho Rev. G. Moreton, who, with Mr Lock, was working from the Central Fire Brigade Station, was loud in his praise of the assistance rendered by the police, members of tho Fire Brigade, and men from the H.M.S. .Dunedin. Equipped with gum boots and sou’-westers borrowed from the Fire Brigade, Mr Moreton and Mr Lock were working in the north end. Their method of procedure on leaving shra method of procedure on learning that people were to be rescued, was to back a cart which they were driving as near as possible to the house, and then sailors from the Dunedin, in a raft, rowed up to the house, and dragged the people out. They were then towed by tho express to safety, and taken to the central police station, whence they ■were sent to hotels or boarding houses. Those working in the northern end of the city were greatly helped by the light from the Dimcdin’s searchlights, which were played on the area till a late hour. But for this light the task of the assistants would have Seen much harder.

The Rev. V. G. 'B. King, who was working in Kensington, said this morning that the Hood waters were receding at the rate of about an inch an hour, but, in parts, the water was still a foot or two feet deep. A general -survey of the south end shows that the water was deeper yesterday than in 1923. By 10 o’clock this morning. King Edward street was fairly clear. Last night it was necessary to remove a number of invalids from their beds, and convey them to more comfortable quarters. "“The work done by the police,'” said Mr King, “is absolutely beyond praise. Without any preparation they waded up to their thighs in water; to render assistance.” Sister Norah told a ‘Star - reporter this morning that she was told that an old man and an old woman were in a house in forth street. She proceeded to the house in one of Kempthorne’s taxis, driven by Air Trainor, and with the assistance of an ambulance man an old woman who was lying helpless in her bod was removed to tho hospital. The old man. who was also helpless, was taken to the Benevolent Institution. BOY SCOUTS TO ASSIST At the meeting of social workers in the Town Hall this morning, the Rev. G-. K. More ton announced that Boy Scouts would he available to render assistance of any kind.