CHECKING UP ON MISSING

Chronicle (Levin), 19 November 1947, Page 5

CHECKING UP ON MISSING

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov.. 18. While hundreds of anxious people waited outside in Cashel Street, employees of Ballantyne's, responding to a radio appeal, assembled in King Ed ward Barracks this evening so that a check could be made on those missing. For more than an hour employees, many still dazed by their experience, kept coming into the barracks. At the same time relatives who were seeking news of members of their families, arrivea and stood in little groups talking in hushed voices or asking employees* n they knew what had happened to husbands, wives," sons or daughters. By 8 p.m. one hundred of the employees had assembled and were waiting for the ohecking to begin. The manager of the firm (Mr. S. C. Novell) climbed on to an army truck and asked all employees to form up beside their departmentai heads op one side of the barracks. Tnen the departmentai heads cpllected tho names and addresses of all those wno had not respofided to the appeal to atfcend the barracks. These lists were jollected and departmentai heads went with the managing-director, Mr. R. H. Ballaatyne, and Mr. 'N'ovell, to the lecture room at the end of the barracks. Here the lists were checked and handed to the police. While the names and addresses were being taken, relatives of the missing

showed signs of strain.. One man Avhose uaughter was missing kept moving cound in the crowd asking if anyone nad seen her. Finally a soldier lea aim away for attention. Before the employees ieft the Barracks Mr. Ballantyne br-iefly addressed them: "Fellow workers, there is nothing I can say except to express sympathy for the most unfortunate happenings this afternoon." He said the names and addresSes of those persons who were not present had been given to the police who would make inquiries. Mr. Ballantyne began to express sympathy for the relatives of the missing but his voice broke and he was inaudible for some time. After the bulk of the employees haa left the Barracks there were still small groups discussing the fire or waiting m hope that there might still be some news of those missing. Further detailed messages about the hre, appear an. page 7.