RELIEF WORK EXPERIENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 5

RELIEF WORK EXPERIENCE

CATERING FOR THE REFUGEES NELSON PARK CAMP ACTIVITIES. DISTRIBUTION OF SUSTENANCE. — I Some idea of relief measures adopted by Napier officials after the first 'hours of the disaster was conveyed to a News reporter by Mr. F. C. Gilmour, whe returned to NeW Plymouth during the week-end after driving Dr. i. H. A. Valintine and two nurses to the afflicted, area shortly after the first intimation of the calamity was received in Taranaki. Mr. Gilmour left New Plymouth before 1 a.m. on Wednesday and returned at 6 p.m. on Saturday after having traversed over 800 miles. Dr. Valintine was taken to the Napier police station, which was also serving as .the Health Department office, during the afternoon and the nurses were driven to the camp in Nelson Park. There tents were being erected and the pavilion was undergoing transformation to suit the varied needs of the hour. In front of it was placed a long counter and there nurses under the control of Sister Hodge were engaged preparing sandwichs and tea for the refugees. Mr. Gilmour assisted in this work. It was estimated that 5000 people used the Nelson Park camp that night. Sandwiches, cakes, fruit and billies of tea were placed upon the counter.- Individuals helped themselves while families were given loaves and butter to take to their tents. ( • With everything working smoothly by Wednesday night the relief workers there were divided into two shifts which workd from 5.30 a.m. —9.15 p.m. and from 9.15 p.m. —5.30 a.m. By Thursday morning numbers of slightly injured people arrived at the camp and Were treated by doctors in a nearby marquee. Transport officers were engaged, in getting refugees away in available cars, and in cases of serious injuries they were sent to the Taradale racecourse dressing station. A proper kitchen was constructed at the pavilion on the Thursday and meat and vegetables were cooked. Bread, clothing, groceries, vegetables and fruit arrived at the camp from outside centres in large quantites during the day and, later on, water, which had ■been very scarce, was piped to the camp from various sources. It was thought that 4000 Were in camp on Thursday night, although about 3000 got away during the day. A bigger shake than usual caused some alarm about 9 p.m. and a fire in the vicinity of the camp burned several buildings before the flames could be extingiushed. Injured people were shifted in case the fire spread to the camp. On Friday blankets were distributed from the pavilion and helpers spent a busy morning carrying patients to Walting ambulances., By this time most of the women and children had been sent away.

“Too much praise cannot be given the nurses engaged in this side of the relief work,” concluded Mr. Gilmour. “As can be seen, they worked exceptionally long hours; the work was hard and the strain severe; yet they were always cheerful and obliging. When one reads of nurses sent away because there was no work for them One cannot help thinking that they could have been well employed in relieving those women.” DRAMATIC SCENES IN LONDON HUNDREDS A^’AIT THE NEWS. . SOME LEARN OF BEREAVEMENTS. I -..,, -—— By Telegraph—-Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 7. There were dramatic scenes at the New Zealand offices when hundreds first learned whether their relatives were safe or dead, bringing realisation of how close to Britain was this distant .tragedy. A little old Cockney woman came to the largo room where the casualty list was published, asking the fate of her ex* soldier son. A London business man learnt of his brother’s safety. A young wife heard of her husband’s death. A New Zealander ' anxiously scanned the list to discover the safety of _ his wife and family. Another was anxious to learn of the damage done to a bank. Many fears were dispersed, many doubts turned to grief, notably, for four young Air Force men, who are among the 80 New Zealand bom airmen serving in Britain. They learned the tragic news of their families and homes being wiped out. ... Numerous telephone inquiries came from Scotland and the Irish Free State regarding victims. Tile Times in a leader states that the depression will make reconstruction in Hawke’s Bay more burdensome, severely testing the sturdy self-reliance upon which New Zealanders pride themselves. Admiration of their fine spirit and sympathy with their misfortune will encourage many more to follow the example of those, who have already conrailway transport officers are doing