RESTORING MURCHISON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 12

RESTORING MURCHISON.

PROMPT ACTION ESSENTIAL

NO EFFORT BY GOVERNMENT

CRITICISM AT NELSON

COMMITTEE SEEKS 'AUTIIORITY

fI!V I'l'.l EOUAril. ri'iESS ASSOCIATION. 1 NKLSON. Tuesday. The eniergcnev relief committee met at Nelson to-dav, and the necessity lor prompt action in resloiing 'damaged louses was emphasised. The Mayor, Mr. W. J. Mi flat, said he had been informed that a number oi women who had gone back to Murchison were returning to Nelson, as their homes wore not habitable. He suggested that the Government be informed that conditions in Murchison were such that tho

committee fell it necessary to take in hand the restoration of houses and ask for a credit to allow the work to go ahead, lie proposed that representatives oi the committee, accompanied by .practical builders, visit Murchison to-morrow and see for themselves the conditions of tho houses. Throe weeks bad passed and no effort had been made by the Government to restore the houses. Coping With Situation. Mr. S. Gibbs, a member of the council, said He was against any women going bark to Murchison at present The Mayor said Mr. Stringer, a member of the council, bad just returned from Murchison, and said that only a few houses bad been moved Iron) iheir piles. Ho was of opinion that a gang ol nun could soon straighten things out. The Mayor added that he considered the central committee too unwieldy, and thu liovcrnniont should be notified that tho Nelson committee proposed to ia;<e the work of restoiation in hand. All that was wanted was a gang of handy men.

In answer to a question Mr. O'Donnell, ■ of the Public Works Department, said" the department's general instructions were to restore main roads and access roads. The Mayor said he did not want to make any rellection on the Government — it had done splendidly—l>ut it looked as if the central committee was too unwieldy, it appeared as if the central committee was going to propound a policy, anil if was so that was where difficulty would arise. Telegram to Prime Minister. It was resolved us follows:—That a telegram bo sent to the Prime Minister, as chairman of the central relief committee, asking authority for the Public Works Department to restore the Murciiison township. "This is a matter ot urgency to restore confidence and allow refugees who are anxious and willing to return to their homes to look alter their stock. Kindly advise if you will instruct the Public Works Department to undertake restoration forthwith, or alternatively, if you v.ill instruct this committee to undertake tho work and authorise the necessary expenditure provisionally up to £2OOO. An immediate reply is necessary in order to place itbefore a meeting of the general committee to-night." It was further resolved that the Mayor, citv engineer and Mr. Stringer, who is a contractor, proceed to Murchison to-mor-row to report on the conditions. • Mr. Waters, .referring to the _ community kitchen at Murchison, considered it might have to be kept going for some ■weeks. If this was necessary it, would be necessary to inako it more of a permanent nature.

The matter was referred to the subcommittee visiting the locality to-morrow with power lo act. Mr. J. Fitzgerald, public trustee, said it had been suggested to him by a Murchison refugeo that a Government land ballot to lie held at Levin on July 17 might bo held over in order to allow some of tho Murchison County settlers, whoso properties had been destroyed, to participate in it.

It was decided to request tho Government accordingly. Before the meeting adjpurned a number of applications for assistance were dealt with.

EARLY ACTION PROMISED,

PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT.

[cv ti;le(ui.U'H.—si'Eei.u, reporter] WELLINGTON, Tuesday.

Replying t0 a series of questions by Mr. G. G. .Black (Motueka) regarding earthquake damage on tho West Coast, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, said in the House of Representatives this afternoon that the question of rehabilitating the people of Murchison would come before a meeting of tho Central Earthquake Committee to-rnorrow. He would be propared to look into a suggestion that a steamer should discharge cargo at Little Wanganui it the necessity existed. The whole matter of earthquake damage had deceived the closest attention of the Government from tho outset and he was iri daily communication with various people on the West Coast.

Answering another question l»v Mr. Black Hie Minister of Public Works, tin; Han. E. A. Ransom, said if the necesjiity arose for another visit to the afflicted areas by tho cnginocrin-chief of tho department, Mr. F. W. Furkert, that would be arranged.

SKDDONVIIJjE DISASTER

PRIME MINISTER'S APPEAL

"VERY HEARTRENDING."

Speaking at a concert given in Wellington last Saturday in aid of the earthquake relief fund, the Prime Minister said that the latest turn of events at Seddonvillcwas very heartrending. Much had been done to relieve those affected, but much more remained to he done. He solicited support for the relief funds, irrespective of what the Government might do, for all the money would be required. 1 hose who had escaped could not put themselves in the place of thoso who had suffered. Only half a dozen houses had not suffered as a result of the floods that hac taken place at Seddonvillc. The Minister of Education. Ifon. H. At more, related a. few of his impressions the devastated area. Ifo intimated th.it he intended calling a conference (if architects, engineers, builders, representatives of the Public Works and local authorities, and others, with a view to designing a model set of specifications, ■which would offer tho maximum amount of solely in the. event of an earthquake. Tic thought that there, was little to be Icare.d if buildings were designed so that they were not deafli-traps. Nelson College was a good example of how not to

DAIRY FACTORY REPAIRS

CHRISTCHURCH FIRM'S OFFER 1 lIY TELKOItAI'H. — OWN" (OTUi KSI'ONDK NT. ] N F.JjSON, Tuesday. The commissioner of Crown lands. Mr. A. E. Waters, who has just returned from Murchison. stated at. to-day's meeting c>f the executive of the Belief Commit, tee that, he had been informed that a (brisfeliiirch firm had offered jo repair ;U)'e. local dairy factory free of cost.