MARLBOROUGH FLOODS

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 December 1939, Page 6

MARLBOROUGH FLOODS

ESTIMATED DAMAGE £30,000, [per press association.] BLENHEIM, December 9. Estimates of damage totalling approximately. £30,000 were submitted to a meeting held last evening to assess the effects of the recent floods, and to decide upon measures for apportioning relief. Individual estimates were not considered by the meeting, however, the main business of which was to appoint an investigating committee, representative of the settlers, mercantile organisations, Government. Departments, and local bodies. This committee is to meet immediately, and to appoint sub-committees to undertake the various phases of the investigations. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Semple), who made a special trip from Christchurch, to become personally acquainted with the situation. He gave an assurance that the Government was most sympathetic with. the sufferers, and would do all in its power to assist.

At a committee meeting held subsequently. immediate steps for the purchase and distribution of fodder for stock in the affected areas were decided on. An inquiry will also be made as soon as possible regarding what labour will be required to clean the flood rubbish from farms. A request for a subsidy of £5OOO, for repair work required to county roads and bridges, was made to Mr. Semple by the Marlborough County Council. Replying, Mr. Semple promised to place the matter before his colleagues, but commented that the usual subsidy for flood damage was pound for pound. ,