AT NAPIER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20168, 21 February 1931, Page 5

AT NAPIER.

decision About pay OF WORKERS.

UNDESIRABLE VISITORS TO BE SENT AWAY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TXUtGEAJI.)

NAPIER, February 20. < ..The weather remains fine and the sea •calm. The wind is a light westerly^ It has been decided to pay skilled workers award rates, and unskilled labour 14s per day. ThOre has been much agitation over the proposal to compel all to- pay 4s per day for food; but it is understood that the scheme is not to be proceeded with. It was announced late to-day that the Belief Committee is to be disbanded, and the local authorities, are to function as far as possible. This is the outcome of a yisit by the Hon. it. Masters, who has sent a report on the position to the Cabinet. An assurance that control in the earthquake area, at least as far as the Government's interest were concerned, would be reviewed was given by Mr Masters when discussing plans with the Napier City Council this morning. "It. is quite obvious to. me that the* Government is going to be involved regarding loans and other matters, and the system of control has got to be reviewed," said the Minister. "It is my intention to go into the matter with • the Prime Minister as far as the, Government's interests in control and its relations with local bodies 'are concerned." / Government Offers £IO,OOO. Mr Masters, on behalf of the Government, has offered £lO, pOO for the erection of temporary business premises in Olive square and Memorial square. The rents recovered will assist in repaying the loan, but the balance will be met by the' Government. There have been no noticeable, shocks since 5 a.m., wlien three fairly, violent shocks were felt. Some women are now returning, but it is not desirable *-that families should return-just yet, not un- ' til the sanitary arrangements are more complete. V Water is now fairly generally available, and electric light is being installed in houses where the. wiring is intact. Much progress is'being made,'and it is expected thttf husbands and-, fathers will soon be requesting the return, of the absent members of families; ' but there should be no undue haste.' The Press j Association will announce the decision to reicall absentees as soon as the officials decide in that direction.. It is ' stated that, upwards of 200 undesirable visitors arebeing- escorted . from the.town to-morrow. Wonderful*; work is being done in clearing the debrife, and some streets now possess usable footpaths. Shops, ate springing up all over the centre of the : city, and. an effort is to be made to > control this erection of temporary premises. ~ REFUGEE CAMPS. 6 ;-OACUATSN i. (razss 'association telkobam.) P,ALMEBSTON N„ February 20. ' The announcement that every endeavour. wonld.be made to evacuate the Awapuni earthquake refugee camp 1 ''by,' Saturday' of next week: '• was made by Major-General Young, i, He said - that the'. Central Re- • lief Cominittee recognised' that it would be' a, considerable time before the women aiyl children would be able to to Napierr and , Hostiigs, but they considered that it would' be better to have the refugees i billeted, in,private homes. > .- Young stated that he was n'bt yet in a position to make a ; statement regarding the Show Grounds , camp. The evacuation of 1 Awapuni racecourse, would ,be. the, first move. , RECONSTRUCTION LOAN;' ' SUGGESTION AT HASTINGS. K , t t . \ - '<■ ' prnma TEIIMBAM.) r , M ' HASTINGS. February' 20. ~ Speaking at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening, the Mayor, 1 Mr G. • F. Boach,', suggested that the Govern- » ment should foalisq the necessity 'of ' raising a loan t'o rehabilitate earthquake. , .damage lit this, area. Unless money ' , could be got soon, he said,, nothing could ,be done by way of reconstruc- ' tion./"We are, entitled to it," he , said, *'there's no doubt about, that." Many were ready to rebuild so soon, as r money was available. ■>, , - Or. Slater:, Cheap money, would be . far better than aSO per cent, grant of the amount of earthquake damage. ' ' The meeting passed a resolution urgc ing the Government to realise the im--3 portance of floating, the necessary loan. 3 Though his remarks-had no connexion ; with the, Council's discussion, A.rQhbishop Averill, in an, interview, urged 3 " 'the same step by the Government. "T 3 consider it the Government's duty to I declare what sort of building is going to bo allowed here/'-he said. He added 3 that the Government ask for a' S loan in Britain, where interest and " sympathy with the Dominion were great. ® He believed that the loan would be = subscribed several times over. Unless a „ loan were raised to enable people to j return and build, they might never t return at all. f - REDUCED DEPTH. •vMATAI'S SOUNDINGS. IN NAPIER HARBOUR. . ' (PBISS ABBpOtATIOH TKUCG&AX) " "WELLINGTON, February 20. The Marine Department received a , report this morning from the Government steamer:Matai showing that' a line of 'soundings from the eastern limit 'i x>£ Napier Harbour showed a general lessening'of depth of from sft to 7ft. n J - MASTER BAKERS. RELIEF FOR 'HAWKE'S BAY. 5 . (special so the hsess.) i " GREYMOUTH, February 20. i The conference of the New Zealand 7 Master Bakers' and Pastrycooks' As- * sociation at 1 Grey mouth yesterday ro-' * , solved -to contribute £26 5s to. the t' .Hawke's Bay earthquake - * was • also decided that, when the full - financial losses investigated, > soma action "would be takep to assist master bakei& effected; djstriote.