“STAGGERING COST”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20186, 2 March 1940, Page 5

“STAGGERING COST”

DAMAGE BY FLOODS MINISTER’S OPINION P.W.D. TAXED TO UTMOST (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. “Never before in the history of New Zealand has the Public Works Department been called upon to meet such a set of tragic circumstances as far as our highways and secondary roads are concerned,” said the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, yesterday, referring to the flood damage in both islands. “We are concentrating our energy and resources on the work of restoring them, and everything that can be done is being done. The people affected can rest assured that nothing will be left undone to get them out of their troubles as, soon as possible.” The Minister said he had no idea yet what the cost of the damage would be, but he vfelt safe in saying that it would be a staggering figure. These calamities would justify a thousand times the River Erosion Bill he was having prepared and which, he hoped, would make provision to meet these major calamities in a systematic fashion. The Minister said the progress that had been made in restoring roads in the north under great difficulties had been very satisfactory. The district engineers .and men had worked wonders. They were on the job at a moment’s notice and no time was lost. “No sooner do we get things done here,” he said, “than there is a calamity in the south, so that the department is taxed to its utmost.”