RESTORATION OF NAPIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22098, 31 October 1933, Page 6

RESTORATION OF NAPIER

PARLIAMENTARY VISIT A MISAPPREHENSION REMOVED (Peb United Press Association.) NAPIER, October 30. A party of members of Parliament visited Napier during the week-end, and inspected many of the works in hand for the proposed development of the district. They were much impressed, not only with the restoration of the city, but also with the prospects of future expansion, and made numerous expressions of encouragement. Those who paid the visit were Messrs D. S. Reid, H. Holland, W. A. Bodkin, D. M'Dougall, A. Harris, A. S. Richards and H. G. R. Mason.

During the morning they were conducted on a tour of the village settlement, a 490 acre block being used in the Greater Napier scheme, the 7500 acre small-farm scheme, the aerodrome, harbour works, and river diversion. Matters were fully discussed at a meeting held in the afternoon, at which the visitors were addressed by localbody representatives, who pointed out that the Governmept had invested £1,000,000 in Napier since the earthquake, and that future prospects were bound up with expansion through the development schemes, protection by river diversion, and increased trade through improvement of the harbour facilities. The members expressed themselves as quite satisfied with the requirements, and extended congratulations to the district on its efforts to effect a complete recovery from the earthquake. The matter of rehabilitation was also brought before the notice of the visitors. It was pointed out that in a recentlyissued Government book on the disaster it was stated that £1,000,000 had been granted to the district for reconstruction. This was quite wrong, as the money was by way of loan, and the total of granted money was not more than £20,000. It was also pointed out that the public appreciated the generosity of New Zealand in subscribing £300,000 for relief, and the matter was brought forward to correct a misapprehension throughout the Dominion. The visitors promised sympathetic consideration of the proposals as they come before the House.*