The Daily News SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1931. MEETING THE AFTERMATH.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1931, Page 6

The Daily News SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1931. MEETING THE AFTERMATH.

Now that some general idea can be formed of the terrible disaster, caused in the Hawke’s Bay district by the recent earthquake and the horrors consequent thereon, it is evident that the work of meeting the aftermath of that havoc will entail efforts of considerable magnitude. It may be said that the hearts of the people of the Dominion have been more deeply touched over the results of this dire visitation than they have been in the past by any misfortune that has afflicted the country. With one accord they mourn for the dead,/ while their warmest sympathy is for the bereaved and the injured, as well as for those whose homes and means of existence have, temporarily at least, been lost to them. Inevitably there must be a large number of the residents of the districts affected by" the destructive earthquakes who will feel unable to face further residence in a spot that has experienced such a visitation as will be, in many cases, impossible to erase from memory. Foi’ the time being it appears to be the right course as far as possible to evacuate those survivors who have undergone one of the most trying experiences of their lives. It is the care and sustenance of such refugees that is of first importance. Happily, as was confidently expected, this duty is being undertaken in the right spirit, as is the even more important task of caring for the sick and wounded. From end to end of the Dominion as well as from other parts of the Empire, practical sympathy and help have been at once forthcoming. The meeting of New Plymouth citizens on Thursday was typical of other similar gatherings throughout the country, at which steps have been taken to deal with the various phases of the aftermath of the great ‘havoc. It has sometimes happened when meeting calls for help in other disasters that intense feelings have overmastered discretion, and an inevitable waste of time, money and commodities has occurred. At the present time, when the people of New Zealand are in the throws of a depression that is generally felt, it is most essential that every care shall' be taken to prevent overlapping and non-es-sential expenditure of any and every kind. The indications arethat those who have already been appointed to deal with public contributions of all kinds can. confidently be trusted to proceed on safe and efficient lines. In order, however, to ensure complete and effective organisation and cooperation of committees set up throughout ■ the Dominion, it would seem advisable for the Government to institute a central control, that could be in constant communication with all such committees regarding urgent needs and measures of relief, as well as the detection of attempted exploitation of the relief funds. . The ' best intentions of sympathisers are' sometimes marred by excessive sentimentality or zeal. Apparently it it undesirable for the relief committees to take into consideration the question of the cost of searching the ruins for human wreckage. That is a work which should be undertaken by the Goveimment, possibly in conjunction with the

local bodies concerned. Almost certainly there will arise appeals for help from those who have lost their means of living or their property. It might be advantageous if the Government made a definite pronouncement upon the policy to ba pursued in such cases, after giving due weight to the fact that the disaster is a national and not merely a local one. .There is no question as to the general public being in the mood to make great sacrifices in the public-spirited and humanitarian effort to relieve the sufferers from this disaster, and those sacrifices will be all the more willingly made when it is realised that the principles upon which relief will be administered are rightly laid down and followed, so that those who participate .in the free-will offerings of the public on their behalf will fully appreciate the spirit in which assistance is offered, and be made to feel that it is not a charity, but true neighbourly 'help in a time of trouble. The larger question of reconstruction and rehabilitation will have to be separately taken in hand by the Government as a national liability.