THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1931. SYMPATHY AND RELIEF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21254, 7 February 1931, Page 10

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1931. SYMPATHY AND RELIEF.

It is helpful to reflect that in the face of calamity and tragedy some of the best of the human qualities are called into play. There is for the time being, at least, a purging of the grosser and more selfish elements. There are events, such as disasters spelling death, suffering, and loss on an extensive scale, which He heavy on the mind even though the scene of them be thousands of miles away. Over the people of New Zealand the shadow of the earthquake hangs heavily, and will continue to do so for many days to come. They are not left isolated, however, in their grief and trouble. The messages that have been received from all parts of the world expressive of deep sympathy with the sufferers in the greatest catastrophe that has ever befallen the Dominion have been eloquent of the kinship which links not only all portions of our Empire, but one nation with another. From our greater neighbour across the Tasman Sea a tide of heartfelt condolence is sweeping these shores. From the Mother Country and the sister dominions, from isles of the Pacific, from the United States and far Japan there has been a like prompt assurance of warm and genuine sympathy. In a dark hour a nation cannot but be deeply appreciative of such expressions of goodwill. Within this Dominion itself the paramount consideration of the hour and the all-absorbing topic of discussion have been the lot of the earthquake-stricken towns and the necessity of devising effective means of assistance for the sufferers. The first call has been for measures of immediate relief such as will alleviate with the utmost promptitude the plight of those who lost homes, means of livelihood, and practically everything in the fateful happenings of Tuesday last. The photographic record now begins to add its poignancy to the written tale — itself yet incomplete—enabling a more vividly comprehensive impression to be gathered of the extent and completeness of the ruination in the most severely smitten portions of Napier

and Hastings. Such visualisation, however inadequate it be, of the outward aspect of the effects of the earthquake must bring closer realisation of the terrible completeness of the destruction that has been wrought. And this realisation must necessarily help to throw into their right perspective, as temporary measures only of relief, the efforts that are being made in all quarters in the interests of the sufferers in the shattered areas. The calamity itself ■is far too great, its effects far too extensive, to admit of anything in the nature of adequate and sustained relief through subscription lists, most liberally supported by the public though they be, and aid from local bodies. The expenditure required to rehabilitate, so far as may be possible, the people of the stricken areas must be on a scale that can only be met by a call on the national funds, the use of which to retrieve what must be looked on as a national obligation would ensure that the cost would be borne by all members of the community to some extent, at least, in proportion to their means. To appeals that are made to the public, as in the present instance, the responses show much variation;—there are people who subscribe more generously than they can perhaps afford, and there are others who do not even make the contributions which they would never miss. But all appreciation is due of the spirit in which funds are being furnished from private sources to tide over the worst of the immediate difficulties of the people of the districts in which the earthquake has worked such havoc, and too much emphasis can hardly be laid upon the fact that relief extended through this means is imperatively necessary, pending the organisation of such measures to meet the position as, following an assessment of the necessities of the situation, must be undertaken by the Government.