AID FOR HAWKE'S BAY

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 82, 16 March 1931, Page 6

AID FOR HAWKE'S BAY

■ PARLIAMENTARIANS’ VISIT SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE SHOWN HAHTINGo March 15. A Parliamentary party organised by Air Barnard, ALP. for Napier, visited the earthquake area, M 5 members of the Legislature, including H0n.,,.). B. Donald and Air 11. E, Holland arriving at Napier by special train on Saturday night. Sunday morning was devoted to insped ing the deva,slated city and surrounding district. Members of the party agreed that the most graphic description of the scenes of desolation could not convey an adequate conception of the extent and nature of the damage. They were full of admiration for the manner in which the citizens ol Napier handled the, situation and the wonderful progress made in (dealing the debris from the streets .and building sites. The visitors inspected the harbour and hospital and on a motor lour saw the damaged roads and bridges and the ruins of several homesteads which furnished further evidence of the appalling violence of I.Tie visitation. 'The Mayor, Mr Vigor Brown, and several oilier speakers, stressed the urgency of (he situation and the importance of giving immediate effect to measures of financial and oilier relief. Mr Holland said that prior to the visit he had no conception of the magnitude of the disaster. The Labour Party was prepared to have the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate suspended at any singe selected by the Government in order that legislation .affecting the Hawke’s Bay area might be taken up at once, 'The whole city should be cleared of debris as soon as possible and finance should be provided to ennble the work of reconstruction to go ahead right away. A city like Napier should not ho allowed to remain as it was when the resources of the country were what they were. At present there was no division in Parliament regard-

ing 1; ]i o desire to assist I lie stricken a tea. Mr I?. A. Wright, M.P., said that all Avon 1 members of one family and all should help one who was stricken. Napier should he reinstated and the members of the House would support the Government in any no'asure in reason within the resources of the country to achieve that object. Mr G. G. i\linms, M.P., said the Go--eminent showed it was in earnest, by aheady doing soinething tangible for the area which had stili'ered. The House had 'to act. carefully, but to provide ten millions of money at a moment’s no lice as had been suggested, would be absolutely wro ll Mr Manns paid a tribute to the magnificent work which the citizens had done in rehabilitating Napier. The Hon. .1. A. Hamm, M.said that Parliament would do the right tiling and the community as a whole would act generously towards the stric ken area. further speeches indicated that the visit of tlic Parliamentarians was greatly appreciated, Mr I’amanl slating tint the tone of the speeches would greatly cheer the inhabitants, who believed that Members of Parliament were anxious to do their utmost, to restore Nnpier.