SOUTH TARANAKI ACTIVE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1931, Page 8

SOUTH TARANAKI ACTIVE

MEETING OF CITIZENS HELD

SUBSCRIPTION LISTS OPENED.

58 REFUGEES ARRIVING TO-DAY.

Hawera was- busily - engaged yesterday in taking stock of its resources with a view to the relief of earthquake distress. Two large public meetings were held while many organisations completed arrangements for taking part in the relief work. The Mayor, Mr. E. A. Pacey, has opened a subscription list, donations to which may be made at the borough chambers or at the newspaper offices? The South Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union has also opened a list- .... - t. At the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union meeting yesterday representatives' of the Women’s National Reserve, Red Cross Society, Women’s Club, Plunket Society and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union were present. There had been a proposal that a women’s committee should be foinied in Hawera, but eventually .it was decided to recommend to the citizens meeting last night that representatives of the various women’s organisations be .elected to the Hawera Relief Committee. A description of the desolation in Napier was given by Miss B. Young, who paid a flying visit to,the devastated area. Mr. Pacey and the Rev. R. E. Evans spoke on the needs of the situation, which called for accommodation for the refugees and money. After the representatives of the other organisations had retired the Women’s Division considered the advisability , of setting up a committee to co-ordinate with the main committee in billeting in the: country districts. Mesdames Carter, Allan, Meuli, Good, Cameron, Shearer,’vickridge, Thrush, Findlay and Miss Johnstone were appointed, i A vote of sympathy with sufferers and those who had lost friends and relatives was passed at yesterday’s meeting of the South Taranaki executive of the Farmers’ Union. Members stood in silence. At the Farmers’ Unjon meeting it was decided to appeal to all branches, the South Taranaki executive leading with £lO.,Mr. E. Betts, the president, donated £5. It was decided to hold the fund thus raised until the Hawke’s Bay executive was in a 'position to distribute it among the farming community in the affected area.

The Red Cross office is open daily and a number of donations have already been received. Red Cross purses made a collection at the Hawera racecourse yesterday. The following cash donations have been received by' the Red Cross Society:— ■ r £ s. d: Mr. Donne 2 0 0 Mr. W. R. Shaw 1 6 0 Mrs. McKelleget ......... 5 0 Miss Boyce .A........... 5 0 'Miss Entwistle ......... 5 0

The society is. no longer collecting donations of 'food but offers of future supplies are being received and' kept in reserve for Scalis ■ that, are anticipated. Members, of the society are standing by> to assist at the Hawera Hospital. The recital ,tb be presented at the Grand Theatre, Hawera, .on- Monday by Miss Constance Reilly and Mr. Rex Harrison will be staged ha arranged, but the whole of the .proceeds will be devoted to the relief funds. . The use . of the theatre has.. been granted free by the Hawera Picture Company, while the staff has also offered its services.

The Hawera Highland Pipe Band, has arranged a concert in the Hpwera streets to-morrow evening. ‘ A collection wil bo taken. ■ , • -

Special retiring collections will be taken (up at both services on Sunday at St. John’s Presbyterian 1 Chtach, Hawera. .

The proceeds of the Hawera Swimming Cliib’s carnival to-night ■will be devoted, to the relief fund.

RELIEF FROM ELTHAM.

At a meeting of citizens called by the Mayor of Eltham last night a representative general committee was' appointed to provide relief. Four sub-committees were .formed to deal with money collections, clothing and goods, accommodation and hospitality . and motor transport. It was decided to open subscription lists and to ascertain what accommodation was available.

Donations received in. the room amounted to £195 and accommodation for GO was offered. It was stated that the Plupket Society, Red Cross and Women’s Division had offered to combine to conduct a shop .day. Mrs. J. Cocker, president' of the Eltham branch of the Women’s Division, has received the offers of four homes to accommodate refugees and further offers ini this respect are sought. Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, formerly Direc-tor-General of Health, has offered his services and left for the scene of the disaster.;' ' 7 7

Dr. S. W. Crawford and Mrs. Crawford Have also departed for. Hawke’s Bay .with a car . loaded with medical supplies and surgical equipment. Mrs. and Miss Goldsmith, ■ who have relatives in Napier, and Mr. W. Sait, who also has. relatives in the devastated area, .have gone ,to investigate the fate of their friend?, . REFUGEES FOR HAWERA. POSITION STILL UNCERTAIN. The borough council chambers, Hawera, were packed to, overflowing last night, when, a public meeting was held to discuss earthquake relief. Advice had been received in, the afternoon from Messrs. L. O. Hooker and R. Syme at Palmerston North that they, had arranged for 80 to 100 refugees to .be sent to Hawera early this morning providing that cars could be dispatched to Palmerston North to bring these people to Hawera. The cars were required at 8.30, this morning. •- ■ ; ■■ : Mr. , Syme stated: that while, these people, were . being cared for .at the Palmerston North . showgrounds' they were, in a parlous, state and should be shifted.

Conflicting reports as ■to ; the\ urgency for accommodation in towns,other than Palmerston North- were received at the meeting and after t three hours’ discussion by the-public meeting and; by the newly-appointed general committee it was decided by. the latter to advise Mr. Hooker that-nothing could be done in the way. of transport until nine this morning. It was. then hoped to receive advice from the Health Department. As fhere was no definite information as to what authority was controlling the distribution of refugees at Palmerston North this' step was deemed advisable. The Hawera band lias offered its services to the mayor for relief purposes.