The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1931. TO-NIGHT’S MEETING.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1931. TO-NIGHT’S MEETING.

'line gathering at the Town Hall tonight to organise in regard to the earihfjnpnke relief fund, .should line] iavour with the public at large. There is going to be great need to help the sufferers in the calamity. The call of humanity in this matter is pronounced, and all should help in the humane opportunity offering. No doubt the Government will do all it possibly can. It will have a great bill to foot in any ease, for there has not been evidence at any stage that duty in the matter has been shirked, or natural obligations neglected. Regarding the state of ull'airs in Hawkes Bay, visitors agree as' to the enormous cost to m-. fared. ‘'lt is more than destruction and ruin, it is dissolution and desolation.” Thus .Mr I). G. Sullivan, M.P., described the dominant impression left on his mind by the picsent condition of the stricken towns of .Napier and Hastings, from which lie has just returned to Christchurch. On his visit .Mr Sullivan was accompanied hv Councillor E. H. Andrews, chairman of the Finance Committee of the Christchurch City Council. Their mission was to investigate on behalf of the council the extent to which immediate help was needed, and whether tip. circumstances instilled a contribution as large as £IO,OOO lining given by the Christchurch council. Mr Siilivan, speaking to a “Times” correspondent, said that Councillor Andrews and he had not the slightest difficulty in deciding very quickly indeed that the utmost Christchurch and the Dominion could do would be less than adequate

to tile alflicted people. It was more tli in ruin and desnruci ion. it was desolation and dissolution. There was the supreme liagedy ol great loss of !i!e. there was the appalling destruction ol property, there was the complete stoppage ol all income for tens of thousands of people. .Mr Sullivan in speaking of the future said that millions would be required for the reconstructions of the stricken towns. Tim loss of life would appear to have been about equal in Hastings and Napier, hut the property loss in Napier would he enormously greater. Mr Sullivan concluded by saying that no pen could convey to those who had not viewed the rains an adequate picture of the awful desolation, while the imagination reeled as one though of the instantaneous dissolution, brick by brjek. of the great and imposing buildings that a moment before had been the lives of jieonle busy about their avocations. No doubt manv have visualised uie possible situation from what they have read and seen in pictur-s, but great as has been the pourtrayal of the scene of destruction and disaster, it is not equal to the actual scenes which Mr Sullivan and others have actually visualised. For that reason it is safe to build on the belief that a huge sum will he necessary, and that each centre must ho prepared to do its part. This district has made a very goo'd beginning,. The mVineys coming in so readily from voluntary sources arc evidence of the true feelings of the people and their realisation of their duty. Tt is for all to attempt to do likewise and help build up the total to the highest dimensions tlm more readily nod ably to succour the destitute and distressful in the stricken areas. A well organised executive should be set up and devote itself to the business of the moment without delay.