GETTING ABOUT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1931, Page 16

GETTING ABOUT

HUMAN NEEDS FIRST

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

.fiy "Tho Pest's" Special Reporter.) NAPIER, sth February. People out of Napier wonder at the apparent uncertainty of communications, but thejr have little conceptiou of the general, muddle that accompanies movements in any direction by motor, the only transport possible. Railway bridges alone would prevent travel by rail, but tho corkscrewed and switchbacked track would - not allow trains to reach the bridges. Work has already been started by the Public Works Department to restore communications. Tlu embankment leading to West Shore was started on this morning. Bridges down on many routes necessitate detours, but these are not so noticeable to-day, because nobody, except perhaps _ the mailmen and service cars, goes direct on any route. Nobody may imperiously hail a taxi in Napier. If ho does his ideas are apt to receive a remodelling. He will find that everything depends on the convenience of somebody else, for it is tho community spirit which dictates every action. Money does not-matter. A five-pound note may be waved about, but it does not bring as -effective results as a tale of necessity, and befauso there aro more cars wanted than are available for public use, one must accommodate one's desires to the average convenience of others . who will mako up the1 full )oad._ lou may want to get to some place in a hurrj, but you won't. You will go out of your way to drop somebody or provide bread or-meat somewhere else, and the wa v becomes so roundabout, and every halt is prolonged by inquiries regarding people, bo much that it may take three hours to go ten miles. If you think to escape by getting a free "do, you don't. Your friend wilsaj . I U whil. Ih. inevitable toilet,,,, .>«,«; may say. "My farm is 3ust down here. Have-not fed the pigs to-day. 'You get out to stretch your legs and, as you "anno't see a sleepless man> carry- * lg water two hundred yards ml bucheta three or four times while you stand idle soon you are hunting out. ttie "You may draw your ration of food free bu you cannot buy things which Say bwanted badly by others. The fome use of it before it becomes neces- * .arautee of a return seat, and if >ou back toNapier through the kindness and courtesy of some farmor-motorista, who will do all they can for you, but £ H be certain to travel any way exTcpt direct. -With no. telephones in action and the postal staffs exceedingly busy? the only way to get news of nponle is to go there, and you cannot I Straight lack, because .they pntrust you, stranger or old -friend, •^itb litUe commissions that you can"^ipitfall the muddle, a tromenf,o?s amount of work is being^onyn collecting and assisting people to get lwa£ in suPPly^g Stores, and in general meeting the situation. b The roads literally F oa* *«"!*£ the stream of cars, lorries, and trucks hat are taking the people* away. System is at last taking the place oi chaos. __^zz "*