FLOOD RELIEF

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 3

FLOOD RELIEF

HOW IT WAS ORGANISED DEPUTY MAYOR'S STATEMENT The following letter was handed to us yesterday:— • • ■ “ Sir, —The letters of Messrs Cuttriss and Minnock, • criticising the work of the Flood Relief Executive and the social servic- associations working with it, compel me to detail the methods used to meet an urgent situation. “Early on the evening of the Hood the Rev. Mi Moreton and Mrs Raker advise' 1 me of the seriousness of the position. Fortified by experience of the 1923 floods I arranged with the Salvation Army and the hotels and hoarding house:, to provide necessary shelter. A visit was then made to tho flooded areas 1 and tho town clerk then made the Fite Brigade station our headquarters for tho night, during which period the city engineer and staff, the Harbcn. Hoard chairman, engineer, and staff, the Fire Brigade, Red Cross, St John Ambulance, Scouts,; police, and officers and men of M.M.S. Dunedin remained on duty, while a mimbei of citizens also held thcmsclvef in readiness.

“Next morning as many of the 1923 committee as 1 could summon met at the Town Hall at 9 a.m. and formed area parties, who inspected and reported results at noon that clay. Meantime a headquarters bureau was provided by Mrs Speight, and subscriptions were invited to a flood relief fund.

“ At the noon meeting, largely attended, an executive ivas appointed, also a finance committee, with Cr F. W. Mitchell convener, and Rev. C. K. Moreton and i\trs Baker were placed in charge of tho bureau. Areas were set out, with mu social service workers in charge. Mr 0, IF Smith and his son, along with Mr Grace, prepared a check card system. Tho Red Cross Society gave ns a guarantee up to TdOO against "our funds for purchases. Mr Dunkley took charge of coal distribution. This meeting concluded its arrangements before 1 p.m. Authority was given for the purchase of food, fuel, "blankets, etc. The executive meets every morning, while a small sub-committee ol three is associated with me for urgent matters between meetings. The executive lias accepted the services of exports to advise on the damage to furnishings and tloor coverings, with Mr W. Mayward convener; and for structural building damages tho president of th Master Builders’ Association is convener. Other matters of losses are als- receiving consideration. Instructions were given the city engineer to ougag- extra hands to assist in cleaning up the slurry in the houses, arid Mr: Marshall Macdonald was authorised to secure thc_ services of female workers lor washing out, (The Fire Brigade had previously offered service 'for hosing out). 'lhere arc many oilier matters that were carried aid, but at this stage sufficient has been indicated. Mould .1 hare been doing my duty as acting official head of the city" on the, night of the Hood had I waited to call a public meeting or iuslnictcd the town clerk to notify ratepayers. Realising the urgency, and knowing that telephone calls would promptly assemble a band of experienced workers I am convinced I adopted tho best, possible course in the interests of sufferers and flic city alike. Although I am writing this in dclencc of those ladies and gentlemen associated with me, [ desire also tooxpross appreciation to Messrs Cuftriss and Min nock foi suggestions tendered, and trust, that they, along with others, may join in the work In conclusion I desire to make my position clear in so far as the_ deputation that called upon me. consisting ot Messrs Mu tiro, Cuttriss, and Mmnock, Mr Munro being a member ol our executive. Those gentlemen courstated that, they were only presenting the decisions arrived at ol the meeting held in Albany Street Mall the previous evening. Alter- 1. had explained and replied to their statements and fecpiests, Mr Cuttriss expressed his thanks as chairman of that meeting at the action J had taken. 1 also invited them to visit the bureau to see tho system and work carried out. "With regard to tho letter, signed by Mr Minuock, stating that I had turned a, volte face in regard to their representation on the executive, i. give this a direct denial. M hat J stated can be borne out by your reporter’s account of the interview —viz., that 1 would place their request before the executive at its meeting on Thursday morning, but that personally f considered the executive was already too large, and what wc wanted was more assistants to help our present band ; if they had any reports of persons requiring assistance the bureau officer would extend full consideration. At the meeting of the executive on Thursday morning 1 reported the result of the interview and their request for representation as promised; I also expressed my own opinion, as f did to the deputation. At this stage only a certain portion of relief work can he carried out. The executive, with its sub-com-mittees, bureau, and area staffs, assistants, Dr Crawsliaw and his officers, arc all working in a commendable spirit. Let ns hope that all misunderstandings will he‘removed, and strive to effect, a speedy recovery, apportioning assistance with justice to all. Some larger problems arc ahead of ns, more,in the nature of flood protection, than conic within the duties of ilood relief; but this is a work for others than the Relief Committee to grapple with.-—1 am, etc., James S. Douglas, deputymavor.” April 1,