RELIEF ORGANISATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20792, 7 February 1931, Page 12

RELIEF ORGANISATION.

EFFICIENT WORKING. EVACUATION NOT FORCED. DENIAL OF MARTIAL LAW. ; [BX TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER. Friday. In an official statement of the position at Napier, the Minister of Lands, Hon. E. A. Ransom, and Mr. R. Masters, M.F., to-day said:— " The whole of the relief organisation is now working very smoothly and efficiently, and, in the main, every provision has been made as far as is humanly possible for food and the care of people in the stricken area. "We understand that announcements have been made regarding the compulsory evacuation of Napier and Hastings. That is contrary to fact. No order has been given to people to leave Napier or Hastings, although it was felt desirable to get some of the women and' children away from Napier because the water supply and drainage system had failed. Evacuation, therefore, is optional, but a large number of people were anxious to get away as soon as possible because of the fear of a further disturbance. "'Fhe position in regard, to Hastings is somewhat different, because the water supply and drainage there are intact. Therefore there is no necessity for people to leave Hastings. , , . _ " As the people of Hastings, in many cases, were desirous of returning to their homes, the Government made arrangements for tents to be supplied to those who desired them, and those who would camp, in many cases on their own properties. "The statement that martial law is in force at Napier and Hastings is quite contrary to fact. Our organisation for the control of the situation at Napier is working very smoothly and a special committee, of which the Commissioner of Police is the chairman, is doing admirable work." Specal reference was made to the work of the Navy under Commodore Blake, boards members, automobile associations and private individuals generally. " The Prime Minister has sent for Mr. Ransom and me to return to Wellington with a view to advising him a£ "to the whole position, particularly in regard to the financial responsibility of the Government," said Mr. Masters. " We have no doubt that a Cabinet meeting will be called upon our return, after which a general statement of the policy of the Government in reference to financial assistance to sufferers will be made." ALARMIST REPORTS. WARNING TO PUBLIC. CURFEW NOT IMPOSED. [B¥ TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HASTINGS, Friday, f The public are earnestly asked to give limited attention to alarmist ; reports which are being issued from some sources. Among some of the statements made is one to the effect that martial law Las been established and the curfew imposed upon the people of Hastings. The whole of this statement is the rankest exaggeration. .'j. ?.... 7.■'' What happened was that consisting of ex-members of the, territorial force and ex-fjprvicemen, consented to do patrol and picket duty. The town is still being governed by civil law and the curfew has not. been heard unless by the person from whom the report emanated. Inaccurate casualty lists also avo being sent out. The one supplied to the Press Association may be taken as the official list. It has been compiled under tlio strictest precautions. Even then it is not impossible that errors may occur. Nothing in that list, however, is published without the Sanction of the police. Looting has aot even been feared and the only precautions taken in the way of guarding property are merely those which are usual on such occasions. The police state officially' that not a single instance of looting has been reported. , The statement that people in the stricken areas, are losing their nerve is to be treated carefully. Naturally they are feeling some strain, but they will carry on, as they are doing now, ginnlj and calmly, and with a wonderful courage. ' ' APPEAL TO MOTORISTS. SIGHTSEERS NOT WANTED. RELIEF WORK HAMPERED. The Mayor of Hastings, Mr. G. F. Roach, has issued an appeal to the Auckland Automobile Association to endeavour to stop sightseers from travelling south. He reports that in the. past two days visitors have tended to congest the roads, hamper relief works and increase the difficulties pf providing food supplies. This wish will be given effect to by the Automobile Association in every way possible. MURCHISON AND NAPIER. QUESTION OF INTENSITY. PRESENT SHAKE NO GREATER. [BY REPORTER.] . NAPIER, Friday. l A special representative of the Heralp, who also investigated the Murchison earthquake, states that at Napier power poles were snapped at ground level which has not often occurred in Hawke's Bay. This is ono reason for the belief that the intensity of this disturbance was at least no greater than that of Murohison. Architectural investigations made after the 1929 shako produced the strong suggestion that although it is considered possible to build earthquake-resisting structures in brick," the majority of existing brick buildings everywhere in this country are not resistent to a sufficient degree if for no other, reason than that they are not complete units of a connected series, each unit possessing different periods of vibration. This occurs between different elements' such as wooden floors in . brick or concrete walls. It is a known fact that reinforced buildings completed in that material have survived much better than brick, while woodon have retained their old reputation as a quake resister.