REPORTS ATTACKED
(New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE, March 6. Criticism of reports of the Gisborne earthquake yesterday broadcast by the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation and the 8.8. C. was made today by the Mayor of Gisborne (Mr H. H. Barker).
He had been appalled at the distorted picture that had been given to the world. It was no exaggeration
to say that the publicity that had been given to the earthquake had done infinitely more damage to Gisborne than the earthquake itself. “The N.Z.B.C. on Saturday night referred to chaotic conditions in Gisborne and had created the impression that the city was a spectacle of horror,” said Mr Barker. “The 8.8. C. went even further. In a world-wide broadcast it stated that the worst earthquake for more than 30 years had caused widespread damage to the buildings in the city of Gisborne. “It declared that the earthquake had lasted for two minutes and that traffic had been brought to a standstill. “It is difficult to imagine a greater travesty of the truth,” said Mr Barker. “Recording instruments showed that the ’quake Tasted for only seconds. The damage was relatively slight and the only traffic congestion was caused by curious sightseers.
“Certainly, there Was nothing at all to suggest panic. There was little more than idle curiosity,” he said. Mr Barker said that damage was almost exclusively confined to old buildings which had been structurally suspect for many years and which had been weakened by the earthquake of 1931.
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Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 1
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248REPORTS ATTACKED Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 1
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