AFTERMATH OF FLOODS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 135, 13 March 1940, Page 7

AFTERMATH OF FLOODS

DAMAGE TO ROADS AND BRIDGES "Never before in the history oC New Zealand has the Public Works Department been called upon fo meet such a set of tragic circumstances as far as our highways and secondary roads are concerned" said the Minister 01 Public Works, the Hon. R. Scmple, in referring to the flood damage in both islands. "We are concentrating our energy and resources on the work and everything that can be done is being done. The people affected can rest assured that nothing will be left undone to get them out of their troubles as soon as possible." The Minister said he had no idea yet what the cost of the damage would be, but he felt safe in saying that it would be a staggering ligure. These calamities would justify a thousand times the River Erosion Bill ho was having prepared and which he hoped would make provision to meet these major calamities in a systematic fashion. Progress that had been made in restoring roads in the north under great difficulties had been very satisfactory, said Mr Semple. District engineers and men had worked won ders. They were on the job at a moment's notice and no time was lost. "No sooner do we get things clone here," said the Minister, "thnsi there is a calamity in the south, so that the Department is taxed to its utmost."'

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