CONDITIONS DIFFER

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 31, 6 February 1931, Page 10

CONDITIONS DIFFER

NAPIER AND HASTINGS

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DANNEVIEKE, This Day. In an official statement of the position in Napier, the Hons. E. A. Bansom and B. Masters to-day, detailing the r», lief measures inaugurated' by the Government, said: "The whole of ttee organisation is now working very smoothly and efficiently, and. in th« main every provision has been made, as far as humanly possible, for food and the care of the people in the strickeai area. ■ ' , ' We'understand that announcements have been made regarding compu!'.sory evacuation from Napier and Hastings. That is contrary to faci, . for no order has been given to people to leave Napier or Hastings, althougih it was felt desirable to get some 6:f the women and children away from Napier, because the water supply and drainage system have failecj. Evacuation is therefore optional, bffit a large numbeV of people wero | anxious to get away as < soon ais possible for, fear of further disturbance, as minor shakes and tremorja were still being experienced. . "TKe position in regard to Hastings is somewhat different, because tho water supply and drainage there aro intact,-and therefore there is no necessity for, people to leave Hastings. Ais the people of Hastings were in many eases desirous of returning to theiir homes, the Government made arrange^ inehts for tents to be supplied to those* who desired them. They would camp in many "cases on their own properties. - '' '•■ "On Wednesday night we provideel 1500 tents to afford shelter for urgenjt cases in' Napier) where people wer« camped on the beach. ; "The statement that martial law iM in force at' Napier and Hastings iki quite contrary to fact. Our organisa.tion for the control of the situation at Napier is .working very smoothly, and! a special committee, of which thjo Commissioner of Police is- chairman, ib doing admirable work. ■