THE GORE FLOOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3084, 23 April 1913, Page 74

THE GORE FLOOD.

AN INTERESTING INVESTIGATION. On Saturday three weeks ago the town of Gore was visited by one of the most serious and distressing flood's ever known, in that part at least of the dominion. The flood is still almost the only top e of conversation in Gore, and is likely to remain, so for some time to come. Effects of the visitation are still evident on all hands to the most casual observer, and it will be many a long day before traces of the flood are altogether removed from the homes and gardens of the hundreds of townspeople living on the flat. The shops bear little outward evidence now of the havoc wrought, but on brick and stone and concrete the high-water mark of the flood is plainly indicated by the damp discoloration of the lower part of the wall. Some builders say that the saturated brick work will not diry propterly all winter now, and that many of the brick buildings are permanently injured. Grave and widespread inconvenience is still being caused by the

The extent of the damage done in private homes is a matter of dispute in Gore, but reliable estimates place the number of homes invaded by the swift and muddy waters at between 300 and 400. In a good many of these the damage will be but slight, but in a considerable number practically everything in the house standing at a lower level than 4ft or sft has been completely ruined. The pitiful and devastating nature of such an invasion in a home could hardly be realised by anyone who had not actually seen :t. The question of relieving the sufferers has, of course, been an important one from the first, and it is most unfortunate for all concerned that those undertaking to give assistance have become divided into two strongly opposed camps. The question at issue is the principle on which relief is to be distributed. There are those who believe that it should bo reserved for cases of immediate distress or destitution or where distress is likely to arise; and there are those who advocate a more generous and loss selfreliant piolicy, tho restoration by means of public gifts of a certain degree of decency and comfort in the invaded homos. The first party is represented by the Mayor of Gore (Mr D. L. Poppdwell), most of tho town councillors, and a committee of leading citizens. Tho other is represented by Mr J. A. Forbes, Mr J. W. Kelly, and other prominent citizens appointed at a public meeting to act as a relief committee. There is ample room for both to quarrel over what constitutes “ distress ’ and what constitutes “comfort.” “The Citizens’ Relief Committee,” as the latter is called, says that the Mayor and his party iiavo failed to realise tho seriousness of fi e position. The official committee retorts that tho Citizens’ Committee is hysterical and injudicious. Tho Citizens’ Committee says that its opponents' one idea is to give needy applicants “a bag of coal and a mattress ’ j the official committee says that the Citizens’ Committee is attempting the impossible and undesirable task of restoring all to the position in which they were before tho flood. The Mayor says he _ has more than sufficient in hand to meet ail the needs brought under his notice; Mr Forbes says he could easily distribute all tho Mayor has at his disposal, and very much more. The actual bone of contention is whether assistance from people outside Gore should or should not bo officially sought, the Citizens’ Committee, of course, voting in the affirmative, the difference : s largely one of taste and individual opinion, and therefore it can never possibly be harmonised. Tno iVJajor is a warm admirer of independence, and spoke with enthusiasm of the people of Mataura, who, although they, too, had suffered badly, had not made a wmmper or a suggestion of outside assistance. Ho considered the damage done in Gore had been much over-esti-mated at first, but made a rough calculation, in which ho set down tho damage in private houses at £IO,QUO, in shops at £25,000, in stores, etc., at £15,000, and in public works at £30,000, or a total of £30,000. This he considered a liberal estimate. A strong point about the Mayor’s position is that he claims to have tho" funds and material to meet all the deserving claims that can bo made upon him. For instance, one man whose name was down for 10 guineas had expressed his willingness to give £SO if necessary. (Jitters had made similar offers. The official committee has never canvassed, but at no time he says has its work been in any way hampered by want of funds. He charges against tho Citizens’ Committee, and apparently with some reason, that it has persistently refused to give him information about needy oases that his committee j 3 doing its best to discover. He referred to the existence of a few doubtful characters in the borough who were trying to make the most they could out of both committees, and who, of course, “ on principle,” eagerly supported an appeal to outside aid. Ho admitted that by telling a good story and making an 'urgent appeal ho could easily have collected £IO,OOO or £12,000 in a very short time, but he said, “I would have been ashamed to do it.” Most of the cases that have been indicated by a reporter who wont round with tite members ol the Citizens’ Committee were referred to Mr Toppelwcl!, and ho was generally able to throw fresh light upon them. A few ho had not heard of He was positive no letter had been received from the lady who said she had had no reply to her request for blankets. Two of the eases wore being privately “ backed ” in a substantial manner. Others had point blank refused assistance, though sometimes people who did that changed their minds after the Citizens’ Committee had seen them. He had a considerable stock of clothing at the Town Hall, and if it was not asked for soon ho would have to send it away to some public institution. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. After all, tho question of the extent of relief that should bo given in the case of a disaster of a nature like this may bo safely left to public opinion, and public opinion on the subject will bo expressed in a decided manner at the forthcoming municipal elections. These are to bo fought out" on the issue of outside aid or no outside aid, and there is no doubt that the contest will be a keen, not to say a bitter one. IN CONCLUSION. There is no doubt that the scenes described above amply support tho Mayor’s statement that it would not have boon difficult to obtain largo sums of money from all over New Zealand had ho laid himself

out to do so. There are scores of people who could they have seen the circumstances would have taken a delight in giving of their superfluity to those who are facing their distresses with such stout hearts and smiling faces. The question still remains, however, whether they would have been well advised to give to those people. Indcpcncuco is a noble thing, and struggle against misfortune makes sterling character, albeit it is a little cold-blooded for comfortable people in cosy homes to say so in iVio presence of their neighbours’ struggles. There is no doubt that a vast amount of tact and ingenuity are required if relief is to bo dis tributed at all satisfactorily to the Gore suffierers; for those who deserve it most simply will not take it through ordinary channels. The depositing of clothes to be called for at the Town Hall, for instance, will obviously exclude many who would be very glad or clothing from a friend, but could never bring themselves to go and ask for it at a public institution. A consideration bearing on the question of outside aid, too, is that practically all the Gore people who were out of reach of the flood '.rave had heavy private calls made on them in the way of feeding and housing and caring for their friends from the flat. Some predict that disease will follow from the use of sodden bedding and furniture, and that the town will in a little while find itself in financial difficulties. All these, however arc questions for the Gore people themselves to decide, and chore is some satisfaction in the thought that they will have a good op portunity of doing so in. the ballot box at the coming election.