MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22665, 16 June 1948, Page 4

MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY

Sir. —As one who has had the dubious pleasure of residing in the Gisborne Borough Council’s transit camp during the past 19 months I have been amazed at the hive of activity into which numerous council employees have transformed the camp over the past It seems strange that this memorable and unprecedented spectacle of a large council labour force working frantically to “lift the face” of the floodscarred transit camp should coincide perfectly with the arrival here of the Prime Minister—more than strange in view of the fact that Mr. Fraser is very interested in the camp and will almost certainly make time to inspect lt- No one would wish to decry th« splendid effort now being made, but it must be remembered * that ever since the camp was opened over two yesrs 3§o ths residents committee nss battled in vain for just such improvements as are now being effected. Many loads of fine gravel have been distributed over roads and paths, right up to individual hut doorways m the effort to please whom? I leave it to the readers of this paper to answer that question. If it is for the benefit of the residents, the time is past when we can enjoy the improvements without feeling that they were belatedly made with the sole object of concealing from official scrutiny what is literally a sticky mess. If on the other hand, the effort is for the benefit of the Prime Minister, I would recommend that the Borough. Council turn its attention immediately to the sodden and water-logged \yau boarding which is contributing to the dank and unhealthy conditions prevalent in most huts. ~. . . The time for Mr. Fraser s visit is at hand and I feel the local body concerned will indeed have to perform miracles to make good its almost comMete neglect of the responsibilities de- / volving upon it in the role of .andlord. —CAMP VETERAN.

(The Town Clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins stated that the decision to clean UD the transit camp was made before advice was received concerning the Prime Minister’s visit. Gravelling had been done periodically, as required. Flood damage and silting had made it a necessity on this occasion. Ed. Herald.)