CLEARING-UP WORK

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1929, Page 5

CLEARING-UP WORK

THE EARTHQUAKE AREA. v -———* * v^Cv. WELLINGTON, July 9. Making his first appearance this session owing to his activities in the earthquake area, Mr G. C. Black .(Motueka) put several questions to the Prime Minister on this subject in the House to-day. These questions showed that there is necessity for prompt action to recondition the damaged Murchison dwellings, otherwise they will deteriorate. Little Wanga-> nui is isolated and in need of supplies, which could be landed if the steamer bound for the neighbouring port of Karamea makes a call off shore. There is necessity for immed-* iate 'attention to the needs of settlers who ha™ bad to permanently evacuate their homes, the position of those from Maruia Valley being particularly urgent. The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Wovrl, replied that the rehabilitation of Murchison dwellings was under, consideration and would be dealt 4 with at a meeting of tb e Central Relief Committee on Wednesday in Wellington. Meanwhile He was collecting all the information possible. This question was receiving his closest attention. The suggestion regarding the call of a steamer off Little Wanganui would be carried out if necessity existed; and as for the plight of x refogees, the Prime Minister assured the House that their needs had‘been receiving attention from day to day. It was hoped to get from the authorities in the . earthquake area definite information for the guidance of the Centr o 1 Committee, at its meeting next day.

Mr Black then turned n Mention to the Public Works aspect and received an assurance from the Hon' E. A. Ransom that although the Engineer-in-Chief had already visited part, of .the district concerned he would he glad to arrange for further investigation into the difficulties of access to Karamea in order to have a decision regarding the future route for a road, as the main outlet has been destroyed, and to ascertain the extqnt 1 ' of damage to the harbour works at Karamea.