QUETTA DISASTER

Southland Times, Issue 25306, 8 June 1935, Page 5

QUETTA DISASTER

REFUGEES DESTITUTE THOUSANDS ALREADY EVACUATED IMMEDIATE NEEDS MET V - (British Official Wireless). Rugby, June 6. In Quetta and other neighbourhoods between 4000 and 5000 people have already been evacuated. Arrangements have been made for their reception and care by the authbrities in Punjab and Sind. * Thousands of refugees are absolutely destitute, and although the Government of India is using all its resources to meet their immediate needs, a swift and large response to the Viceroy’s appeal is essential. A bureau has been established for the registration of claims for property lost. Salvage work in connection with these claims is being carried out to the maximum extent commensurate with safety and public health. A message from Calcutta says_that the destitute refugees number 15,000, and 3000 are being treated daily at the hospital at the racecourse. There are 1500 in-patients at the Indian military hospital, where 6000 are treated daily and over 7000 operations have been performed. Many British military officers’ wives are nursing the Indian women injured. appeal’issued RELIEF FOR SUFFERERS. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 7. The Dominion headquarters of the New Zealand Red Cross Society have decided to issue an appeal to the people of the Dominion for funds to aid the sufferers in the Baluchistan earthquake. The society received cable advice from the League of the Red Cross Society, Paris, confirming the appalling loss of life and property in the Quetta disaster and, as a result is appealing to tire Mayors in every town in New Zealand to co-operate with the local newspapers in opening a fund. They have made tentative arrangements through Mr H. Goodman, Dominion president of the New Zealand Hockey Association with the Otago Hockey Association for a collection among the spectators at to-morrow’s hockey match in Dunedin in which the Indian team is taking part. Sir Alexander Young announced that the appeal has the approval of the New Zealand Government. WARNING OF ’QUAKES INVESTIGATIONS ADVOCATED. (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, June 6. The Under-Secretary for India, Mr R. A. Butler, promised in the House .of Commons to communicate to the Government of India two suggestions put forward by Mr A. E. L. Chorlton in Parliamentary questions. One was that the Seismological Association at Oxford arid the Geological Society of London should inquire further into the fact that earthquake shocks in regions known to be subject to them are generally preceded by minor tremors detectable on suitable instruments, thus permitting the public to be warned. The other suggestion was that a technical commission containing members with experience of erecting earthquake buildings in New Zealand, Japan, California and elsewhere should be set up to make proposals for the development of standardized steel frame or other buildings at a cost within the reach of private enterprise.