ACCOMMODATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 66, 17 June 1942, Page 5

ACCOMMODATION

IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY ABSORBING TOWN RESIDENTS "Is there any chance of closer coordination between the County and the Borough in the matter of evacuation," asked Mr B. S. Barry, at he meeting ol' Rangitaiki Wardens ast Monday. He added that the borough E.P.S. had proceeded as ar as it coufd go in the meantime tnd noAV only awaited the setting ipart by the county of a reception irca. He explained that while in the nidst of arranging for the evacuaion of the Borough residents to the bounty, he had learned that the bounty centres were also making similar arrangements and he wondered where they Avere all heading [or. It was very necessary for them to get together on this point, declared Mr Barry for while in the :vent of bombing or shelling the population would stay put, in the case of an invasion the best thing was to get out of the way. What they wanted to know was how many and in which direction people were to be sent. Mr Burnett said that the subject had been a most difficult one, sub-i jected to orders and counter-orders from headquarters. However the first questionnaire sent out by the County still held good and it was possible to accommodate 1700 in the south and 1700 in the north. The County residents would of course stay in their own homes. He thought also that Avith the aid of the Sy?wn E.P.S. A'ehiclcs, transport could also be found. Mr Barry said that the Borough had 90 impressed A'ehiclcs. There were roughly 2300 people in Wliakatane and 230 at Ohope Avho would require accommodation. Mr Burnett said the County organisation would be prepared to take immediate steps to ascertain the number of evacuees which each district A\ T as capable of absorbing. When this was. done the Borough \vould be giA r en the particulars and could net accordingly. Information now in hand suggested that the people to be accommodated would be put up in County homes—but not necessarily—bedrooms.