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Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1929, Page 4

The leading Reform newspaper of the Dominion, at Auckland, has rather gone out of its way in the attempt to make political capital out of the unfortunate visitation by the earthquake. The ’’Herald” said, Sir Joseph Ward and his colleagues have been guilty of a grave dereliction of duty in failing to relieve all this distress comprehensively and instantaneously. ■ Why, asks the “Herald,” should the refugees be toiling on the roads clearing the slips away, and' why have the fugitives to ford' a stream, “where the bridge was broken a week agod”’ The obvious answer is that there has been an eartnq'uake. By what process of reasoning can any rational human being convince himself that the Government, or any power on earth, could start roadmaking and bridge-building at a moment’s notice ini country originally rough and difficult and now torn and shattered into' fragments by this great convulsion? By what conceivable means could the Public Works Department, or any other branch of the Administration, bring into play within a few hours “the vast organisation of men, material and appliances at its command,” .where roads and bridges exist no longer? The chief engineer of the Public Works Department lias already slated that the repairs of the Buller Gorge road alone will take years of heavy work aild the expenditure of at least one hundred thousand pounds. This estimate can be only a guess for all details are not yet to c hand, but it is known publicly through the press telegrams that the Government took no time in meeting the extraordinary situatioin. Government officers on the spot did their duty manfully. Whether connected with public works or telegraphs! they were on the job without delay. There was an evidence of organisation in the fact, that the road to -Reefton was opened so speedily for traffic. And apart from what was done by foremen in the district, heads of Departments lost no time in reaching the stricken

area, while a Minister of the Crown also went straight to the seat of the trouble. As regards * finance, . money was found'nt once for Nelson and Murchison, as well as far Karemea, and Sir Joseph from the outset took the closet personal interest in assisting to do all possible to meet the emergency. Tt was a very unkind act of a leading newspaper to take the stand it has, for its strictures reflect on the whole of New Zealand. Tt is clear that the evidence forthcoming is all in favour of the Government, and the “Herald” should now he regretting its action in choosing such ground for an attack on the Government in the in-

XCI GoT/S Ol Uc.ll pulll»luS. lb IS “Vlulllbj tooy that Mr Coates, the Leader of Reform, cannot have the opinion of the “Herald.” To 'his credit he went also to the'seat of the trouble, and by his presence and kindly words showed practical sympathy for the distressed," action which must have had a heartening affect on the afflicted people. Mr ■Coates’ investigations did not reveal any laxity or neglect on the part of the Government. On the contrary lie told the people he was supporting the Government in everything that was being done in the public weal.