PROTECTION OF NAPIER

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1931, Page 7

PROTECTION OF NAPIER

INVALUABLE help of navy

NEED FOR STRONG MEN AT HEAD.

‘"GHOULS BATTEN ON DISASTER.”

ADVICE OF DR. T. H. A. VALINTINE

Concern at a rumour he had heard that the naval men were shortly to be withdrawn from Napier, and an opinion that some form of strong control apart from the police force was absolutely necessary, were expressed to a News representative yesterday by Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, ex-Director-General of Health, who Is now living, in retirement at Elthain. Dr. Valintine has just returned from a visit to Napier, where he wps in close touch with the various official headquarters and was afforded an excellent opportunity of summarising the true position in the afflicted area.

“Of course it is absolutely impossible to describe the condition in which Napier now is,” said Dr. Valin; tine. “I leave that to other and more experienced writers. 1 cannot speak too highly of the courage with which the people are facing the position. Everyone is doing his job. On the very best Of authority I can say that the organisation at Hastings is wonderful, and reflects great credit on the municipal authorities. Bub above g.ll we must iakc’ off our hats to tlie navy. The work of all ratings has been superb, and I cannot help feeling that those people Who have sons in, the New Zealand division of the British Navy should be veryxproud that their sons were there and helped as they did in the early stages of the calamity. What the position would have been in the first few days without the navy is too awful to contemplate.

“indeed it would be disastrous to Napier and the surrounding country iftge navy is as I understand is possible in. the course of the next few days. I sincerely hope that some portion of the blii?jackets and marines are retained for police duty until the bprough council and other authorities can function. There are certain ghouls who batten on disaster. This disturbing element has already made itself felt, and for the administration of Napier in the near future a strong man such as Colonel Allen Of Samoa is needed, with strong men to back him up.

“I am speaking particularly of Napier,” continued Dr. Valintine. “It will be a very long time bbfore it can be to leave th© town without the adequate protection that the navy affords. Indeed, I think of th© matter so strongly that I consider it would be as well if th© navy took complete charge of Napier and the surrounding district until wa get an official such aa Colonel Allen, or any well-known arid tribd military officer ot similar eX; periefice, supported by a strong force of ex-soldiers and police, to take oyer the control. The police force in the district is absolutely inadequate. I believe that the Police Commissioner, Mr. Wohlmann, has made arrangements for 37 additional member* of the police service to enforce law and order, but in my .opinion with, th© withdrawal of the navy this additional force would not be sufficient. I am sure Commissioner Wohlmann himself will recognise this.' ■ “It is very unfortunate that so many people-from outside are visiting Napier just now. . Surely the most adequate precautions should be taken to ptevent the mere sightseer from visiting the stricken area and'thereby adding to . the confusion. There is a lawless element that is inclined to grow, and the position is not helped by the drifting in of a number of unemployed. Some unemployment committees , are recommending the workless to go to Hastings and Napier, ■ but this is not a sound policy, for the work being done at present i? chiefly by local volunteer labour and there is no money with which to pay workless men from .other parts of th©' country.”