WORK OF RESTORATION

Northern Advocate, 11 February 1931, Page 6

WORK OF RESTORATION

THE FIRST STEP,

MR <'OATES EMPHATIC.

‘‘The disaster that has befallen Hawke’s Ray has nof hern e.saggei'attnl In I lie slightest degree, and the ;sympahly that one naturally feels for those who are afflicted, becomes intensitied when, one meets them among the desolate ruins of their homes and businesses,’’ said the Rt. Hon. .1. 0. Coates, Leader of the Opposition, on .Saturday, mi his return from a visit to Napier and Hastings. “I do not think our people need anv further assurance of the urgency of the call for help. We cannot give back to the bereaved the husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters and children they have lost and we must leave, to our doctors and nurses the. noble task of restoring tlio.se who have been injured, knowing full- well that with the country behind them they will not lack anything that may be required. Where everybody can. help is in the work of restoration.

A big point to remember is that the productivity of Hawke’s Bay lias not been destroyed,” sard Air Coates. “Damage lias been done on a number of farms, but, taking the province as a whole, the farms are capable of producing as much as they ever did. It is the distribution system to and from the farms that has been knocked out and our energies must be devoted to restoring it. That means that there cannot he any argument whether or not we should get -started immediately with the rebuilding -of the towns. They have to lie rebuilt and the quicker we get ahead with it the better it will be for the people of Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand as a whole. “I discussed the situation with the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in Napier, and wo agreed that the first thing to do is to get the affected towns cleaned up. That forms as much of the cure of the stricken people -as financial and other help. The atmosphere ot desolation must be removed and the people given a renewed interest in lift. The two can be achieved by -employing the people -on clearing up ami rebuilding. There will be sufficient of this work to keep a number of people going until life functions normally again. Then, too, we must give every encouragement to the business houses to resume their affairs.

In brief, everything that can be done to restore normality should be put in hand at the earliest, possible opportunity. There is a, tremendous task ahead, but 1 am sure the people of Hawke’s Bay, with the support, liberal and quick, of the whole of Xcw Zealand, will perform it.”

THE MAN OF THE HOUE.

CTAF.F-SEEGT.-M AJOR O ’LEAKY.

HASTINGK, This Day.

Out of desolation and chaos there rose in devastated Hastings a man whose name will live, a. man who rose magnificently in a crisis and directed the destinies of Hastings with the touch oi a master. Stalf-Sergeant-Ma-j°r P. -I. O’Leary was the man of the hour.

Like a coachman with Jus team, Sergeant-Major O’Leary took the reins. There was efficiency in every mo\e. He schemed, and lie planned, and in those desperate hours following tlie tragedy, when businesses and homes were wrecked and there was death all along the main street, he worked for one goal confidence among the people. When Hastings saw' there was a real leader, confidence came, confidence born of the efficiency and amazing capacity tor work of one man.

In no time, Sergeant-Major O’Leary had Hastings under splendid control. He radiated efficiency, with the result i that there was no panic among the people. Ho picketed the whole town, j and at every intersection the way rvas j barred to morbid wanderers. Xo man j nas allowed in the danger-zone unless |he carried an authority from either' I the police or Sergeant-Major O’Leary. jFood depots were arranged, and the i sergeant-major had painted big white letters at the intersections “Get Your Bread At King’s Theatre,” Demolition work, distribution of tents and blankets—everything was arranged by him. The committee have come to ican on him, and now he is worn and t ired, but still lie smiles, still he makes j quick decisions, still lie answers all j questions, no matter how futile, with | the greatest of courtesy and patience. | War-time experience taught this jman many things. Experience of j handling men and desperate situations jiame to Jii s aid in this emergence. He j pedalled round the town on Lis bicycle | and had the amazing facility of always j being where he was most urgently j needed. And typical of the man, he jgavc all the praise to somebody else. j PORTLAND’S EFFORT. j FUNCTIONS PLAXXFD. | j The question of raising f' um j s f or f{ lo ! relief of the sufferers in the earthquake was fully discuss'd by the Portland WVLfare League Gnnimittee at its meeting held on .Monday evening. It uas decided that the Management Committee of the league would act as I trustees for the people of Portland for-j the raising of funds. Ail funds raised i an 1 to be used for the immediate relied of distress amongst the sufferers of the disaster. Dissatisfaction was expressed at the! disbursement of funds in the Murcia-i son disaster, and it was reeved flint J any moneys paid into the league’s i'“-i lie! lan cl would be disbursed at the 1

discretion of file committee, through such bodies as the -Sunshine Longue, Salvation Army, etc., who were dealing direct with distress. The rules governing the hire -of' IFa 11 and thoatrephone will be suspended, on condition that the proceeds from social functions held shall be handed over to' the Welfare League Disaster Fund.

An, appeal is being made to residents of Portland to assist the committee in raising funds. Donations of cash', clothing or goods will be received by the Welfare League secretary.

The committee resolved to hold a dance on Friday night, and a Paddy’s Market, followed by a dance, on the following Friday, February 20. A special picture night will be hold on Monday, February 20. ;ho committee invites the co-opera-l of all to make these functions 'thy of the object for which they being held. INFORMATION BUREAU ■T-WO THOUSAND QUERIES. [Per Press Association.—Copyright.) ' NAPIER, This Day. 'The Y.M.C.A., under direction of its National Committee, has a chain of information bureaux for the purpose of connecting friends and relatives outside the stricken areas with unfortunate friends in the Napier district. Each bureau is in charge of a V.M.C.A. secretary, with a large stall of clerks, and investigators' who are scouring in the devastated areas finding people who are anxiously sought for by friends throughout New Zealand. The Napier Bureau since its inception has handled over 2000 inquiries, and over 100 wires have been sent informing relatives of the whereabouts and condition of their friends. Tlie staff members are working 10 hours daily and arc performing valuable service. Apart from acting in liaison between people in the stricken area and friends, they are also assisting in the disposal of mails, giving comforts of 1 tobacco and cigarettes and supplying general information, j WHANG ARE! FACILITY, j Tlie Inquiry Bureau set up by the Whangarei division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, acting locally on behalf of the Y.M.C.A., has already had two inquiries after persons who! wore in the earthquake area. The persons inquired for were Alexander Gilliam! and Mrs Z. Cad-1

man, in respect of whom inquiries have been set up.