SUGGESTION RESENTED

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 8 June 1931, Page 9

SUGGESTION RESENTED

DANGER OF NAPIER PANIC

SCOUTED BY MIMBER PRAISE OF PEOPLE'S HER-OISM. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER:, June S. “I have noticed; in the Press a; (paragraph concerning the presentation to Commander Morgan, of H.M.S. "V eronica, in recognition of the services of himself and his men in Napier during the earthquake,’’ remarked Mr. W. E. Barnard, M.P. for Napier, in Hastings on Saturday night. ‘ this presentation was made by the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and, according to the paragraph, Lord Bledisloe made the statement that, but for the presence and prompt action, oi the Commander and his men there would have been a serious panic, in I want to say here that that remark is overstated,” said Mr. Bnmal A voice : I think so, too. • Mr Barnard: I am quite satisfied that there would, have been m P'ij 1 ™ in Napier even it the Veronica had not been there. A voice: Or anywhere else. Mr. Barnard: you must that Napier was. a town oi habitant® at that time and che Mia men on the Veronica, was not moie than 100 All of those 100 were not "Mhe town for, obviously, some, men had to stay on the ship, so to sa that hut for the presence, ot 60 oi t .O men ’ there would have been a panic is quite untrue. I have no intention of belittling the extremely line woik Ul ?, bv men of the Veronica and a. so the 4rw ill nt. traffic disaster in , . » them I take this first opportuni > > faVto be a resident of Hawke s Bay.