REFUGEES IN FEILDING

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 5573, 11 February 1931, Page 3

REFUGEES IN FEILDING

Some Moving On

SORTING UP IN PROGRESS

Some of the refugees who hastened to . take advantage of the succour offered by Feilding and district have since moved on to different parts of Now Zealand to join relations and many others are now applying for transport facilities to move on. This was anticipated immediately the acute distress experienced last week had passed off and now that most of the refugees are benefiting by the generous hospitality conferred on them by Feilding residents, thoughts of the future are taking shape. Communications with relations have been made and this is resulting in many movements, the organisation for which is being faithfully carried out by the Feilding relief committee. Throughout yesterday the Town Clerk Mr N. C. Harding, spent another busyday issuing railway passes and recording the movements of refugee families. As these are noted they are passed on to the recording staff to enable the correction of the register which is being maintained of all refugees to facilitate the answering of enquiries. Several families wcto yesterday provided with transport facilities to return to their homes in Taradale. One lady pointed out that the earthquake had not caused her to overlook the depression and as her hudbamd had obtained work in Taradale, it was essential for her and her family to help in the restoration of the district.

Another lady, with several young children, expressed her deep gratitude to the people of Feilding for all they had done. She, too, must return to Taradale, for there was work to bo done. Sho had been overwhelmed with kindness, but her children had been so unsettled by the disaster that they refused to sleep anywhero but with her. This had caused her sleepless nights and sho wished to return to join her husband'. The inmates of the Old Men’s Home encampment are all very comfortable. Mr R. Hay-Chapman, manager of the of the Park Island Old Mens’ Home has reported for duty at the racecourse and Is now carrying out his duties under the direction of Dr. Cameron. The Palmerston North Hospital Board is taking over the financial responsibility on behalf of the Napier Hospital Board and appeal to the Feilding people to continue with their wonderful assistance and organisation on behalf of these old men. In consequence of the tremendous tax now being made on the Napier Hospital Board’s finances it is urgently desired to maintain the old men in Feilding without having to call on the Hospital Board for any great monetaryhelp. Feilding by continuing to help with foodstuffs, etc., will be perform-1 ing a great service in relieving the | Napier Hospital Board. Mr Phillipps,, secretary of the Palmerston North llos-1 pital Board and Dr. Findlay medical! Officer of Health, visited the camp, on Monday night and were most enthusias- ■ tic over the arrangements made for the : accommodation of tho ex-Park Island' inmates. Dr Findlay remarked that ho i doubted whether it were possible to' have a more efficient temporary home anywhere in New Zealand. He had no I idea that arrangements were so com-; plete and it was most gratifying to; know that no time had been lost in pro- i viding next to ideal accommodation for the bid men. Not Required.

Cr. T. Collins with the Feilding Borough Sanitary Inspector, Mr C. Pearson, who journeyed to Hastings on Monday met the Belief Committee there and were advised that their services would not be required. It was expected that Mr Pearson’s services would be availed of in connection with the town’s sanitation and water service but as this work had progressed so satisfactorily, the Health Officer advised Mr Pearson that his services would not be required. Mr Collins on arriving back at Feilding reported that the organisation at Hastings was working splendidly.

Stores Wanted. The Belief Committee advises that the following are required for Thursday: Vegetables, dry groceries and soap. These should be left at the depot in Fergusson Street. Undesirables. A sharp look out is being maintained by the Feilding police for undesirables and it is satisfactory to report, that, so 1 far, the town has not been called upon to take action against this class of individual. The Belief Committee is also watching that their good work is confined solely to the refugees, the system, of recording names proving very beneficial in this connection. Jottings. A refugee at Waipukurau has written acknowledging with thanks the work of the Feilding relief cars, in one of which she and her children were transported from Hapier on Thursday night last, fehe states that she left a parcel of new shoes in the car and asks if enquiries could be made as to whether they have been found. All re-, lief car drivers are asked to communicate with the Town Clerk or the Transport Committee advising whether they know anything about tho particular refugees. A donation of £250 has been made by the Manawatu-Wanganui Provincial Council of the Licensed Trade, which includes the Oroua electorate, to the Hawke Is Bay Earthquake Belief Fund. Befugees aTe still finding their way to Feilding and a list of new . arrivals appears in another column this morn,ing. | The local chemists have very gencriously agreed to supply free of charge the medieines required for refugees. These medicines will of course be.. ordered through the recognised author-; ities. \

Car owners are still.required for duty in the town. Lady drivers could do most -of the work • required and if avail-

able would release business men from duty. It is anticipated that transport w T ork will gradually taper off as the days pass but in the meantime there remains a certain amount of work to be done.