HELP BY Y.M.C.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 11 February 1931, Page 4

HELP BY V.M.C.A.

♦ CAMPS AlvTl)v:BUKEAUX

It was Qvident very shortij^after tho ■news of -ite, earthquake disaster be-; eamo public ;thaf.'.tlip: : T.M.C;A. could. ijioet ,'Vj3ry,;real, .:Heed 'in .obtaining informaiibn, of', the. whereabouts and condition of residents in the stricken area. As the inquiries increased in largo numbers, the information in Government Departments was sought, and the Public Service Commissioner af-. forded-the y.M.C.A. every .facility. . ,'.:, An ..efficient 'system was set up, and inquiries: by*;;ca]lers, ■letters, telegrams, and e'ablQs .*}iavo :b.6en received :by hun-dreds:;--.-in'.'^the' I'Wellington";'O-.C.A. tTndeivt'he procedure ,\vhiqh ivas followed, lists were made of tho particulars in each case,: and copies were sent to Palmcrston North, Dimuevirko, Waipukurau, Hastings, and Napier for inquiry and rbport. Later, with the holp of tho Post and Telegraph Department, all public inquiries have been communicated to the V.M.C.A. bureau at Napior, where twenty men arc helping the secretary and his assistant. ■ The national, secretary of Y.M.C.A.'s (Mr. Brasted)>was early in tho field, and found that:the association building at Napier had been demolished and that tho secretary (Mr. F. C. Main), who was known, to be severely injured, was missing. He was discovered only on Sunday after recovering consciousness in tho Palmerston North Hospital. He had suffered severe scalp wounds :ind laceration, with concussion. The Y.M.C.A'. building at Hastings was commandeered as a mortuary. Secretaries and Soveral assistants were hurried from other centres, and comfrirt- were1 distributed to refugees and restoration, workers. V.M.C.A. camps were set up .-it Dannevirke and Waipukurnu, with refreshment facilities and inquiry bureaux, and also at the largo concentration:'area' at Palmerston North Showground, where a comprchensivfl scheme of onlertainmont and recreation is in operation. Plans are being modified from, day to drfy to meet the rapidly changing conditions. The national seereliiry of the V.M.C.A. and tho general secretary of Iho Wellington Association ;irc eonferriiig regarding a schetne for maintaining the morale- <jf: the sufferers on their return to ICastings and Napier and their residence in liirge community camps thero under tho Government scheme pending iho restoration of their homes. These camps will probably exist for some months.