WILL TO FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 11

WILL TO FIGHT.

PEOPLE 0E NAPIER. NEW TONE APPARENT. MORE LIKE NORMAL. VOLUNTARY WORKERS. OTHERS RESTRICTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] NAPIER, Friday. A new note was apparent in Napier today. It seemed that the dazed feeling had lifted, that the instinct of the human race to begin again had asserted itself. It is not suggested, of course, that the whole population was depressed to the point of despair and nervously affected previously, but a sufficiently large portion was affected in that way to create a definite psychological tone through the city. To-day was a return to something more like normal in the average person, and to the will to fight adversity, <• Evacuation has proceeded sufficiently far to make a- marked reduction in the number of people about the streets, and a further diminution of traffic has been brought about by the severe restrictions placed upon tourists from outside districts. Many of those arriving since the earthquake were Geeking friends, but unquestionably there were many sightseers who did nothing but complicate the situation and place unnecessary stress upon the feeding organisation.

Among those who remain there is much more practical activity and workers for all sorts of jobs are being enrolled. Numbers of gangs of civilians are engaged in clearing the streets of debris. This work by civilians was overdue. The Navy had been the only street workers. Naval parties are still just as active in demolition operations and in searching for bodies, of which a number more have been found. Miraculous Escapes. Rumours aro constant as to the rescue of many alive, but they needed to-day to be sifted by inquiry. It is a fact that after 24 hours of peril a Hastings butcher was found quite well. He had stood against a wall and been imprisoned in that position. When rescued he was able at once to tell his rescuers where the body of his assistant would be found. The escape of this butcher is no more remarkable than that of Dr. Gabitcs and his wife, who were on the top floor of the Masonic Hotel when it collapsed. They fell with the shattered floor without suffering injury. They saw a ray of light, and scraping an opening found them selves on the street.

Touching upon rumours, there is a complete conflict between the officials and tho unauthorised person. Last night, for instance, a man rushed from house to house on a portion of the Bluff telling people to be ready to leave by lorry in ten minutes, because tho hill was slipping into the sea. Tjiere was not a vestige of authority behind the instruction, which was apparently only the raving of panic. In regard to civilian labour, the position is that tho Public Works Department has taken over the responsibility, and it stands to the credit of the men at work on street-clearing, census-taking, and traffic control that the question of payment has not been decided. It is intended by tho authorities that the men shall be paid, but so far what the payment may . be has not been discussed. Allotting of Tasks. The workers, who are supplied with food, are just allotted to a task for which they are fitted, and they go to it. Thus, in adversity, men riso above the monetary standard. At the moment, ready money has little value here. There are community food and community shelter, and no shops in which money can bo spent, if one wants to spend it. It is a calm, sunny day, one of cloudless sky. The sea is as beautiful as ever. Tho vegetation has not bowed its head to tho calamity. "And if one closes one's eyes to what wore buildings, it is hard

to imagine that one is in a nightmare city, filled with devastation and death. At the place where men are enrolling for duty one sees a fair cross-section of the male community. All kinds and conditions of men, of all ages, line up. They are eager to do something, and none talks about wages. In addition to about 150 engaged in guarding the streets, many are making a detailed census, street by street, to determine the number of the population. This is necessary in connection with food supplies. The task is one of difficulty. There are families that make their home their headquarters, but go to a camp on the beach or in a park at night. The City Council is directly responsible for the census, and in addition to the house-to' house inquiry, is making a check by issuing food cards. Earth tremors continue.