“Murchison will be Prosperous Again”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 710, 9 July 1929, Page 12

“Murchison will be Prosperous Again”

RESIDENT’S OPINION NEED FOR HELP URGENT Press Association NELSON, Today. Speaking to a reporter today, Mr. Hugh Fraser, who has done so much for the Murchison district at the time of the earthquake and since, remarked: “It is with deep concern that those who still have faith in the Murchison district have heard some of its citizens declare that they will never go back there to live, whether it be as a farmer or as a business man or woman. Surely, with few exceptions, it is much too sdon to decide so vital a question. “The Murchison people were, as a whole, a eontented and fairly prosperous community when the earthquake came along and upset them temporarily. They were a happily united people, just like one big family, and it, would be regrettable if the earthquake resulted in too many gaps in their ranks. It may be taken for granted that others will take the places of those who may finally decide to leave, but the point cannot be emphasised too strongly that, in some cases at least, they may go far and fare worse. It is true that a few farms have been rendered totally unfit for dairying, and others have been so badly damaged as to greatly reduce their productivity for a time, but the great majority of farm lands have received little or no damage. “The output of dairy produce may be reduced by 25 per cent., or even 30 per cent., next season, but anyone with a knowledge of the district and of its possibilities will admit that it is capable of making a complete and speedy recovery in point of output. Few farmers or others have escaped fairly heavy losses through damage to buildings. This is general over most of the country, and will call for courage and determination to build up again, but this does not affect materially production. It is on some of the farms that the greatest measure of assistance is needed, and probably relief funds cannot be better applied than, in as far as possible, setting producers on their feet again. “As for houses, a good gang of men under skilled direction would soon put these in order, and the making of all homes habitable would seem to be the most urgent and pressing need of the moment. Although representations were made only three days after the earthquake, suggesting that the Public Works Department undertake the restoration of all homes, three weeks have now passed without any move having been made. In the meantime, depreciation of property is taking place through leaking roofs, etc. “It is, however, admittedly difficult for the Government to decide or declare its policy until the full extent of the damage in all parts has been ascertained. Taking it for granted that sufficient funds will ultimately be made available for this purpose, either by the Government or by those controlling relief funds, the Public Works Department might well be authorised to proceed with the restoration of chimneys at once, and the cost of the work could be treated as part of the compensation or relief moneys payable It is not a case of sitting down and waiting for the Government to do everything. It is simply impossible for individual householders to secure the necessary skilled labour. It is of the greatest importance that the Government should take steps to assist the people in this way, for it would not only speed up the return to normal conditions, but it would do much to restore confidence. “Many men have already returned to their homes, and their womenfolk are eager to join them at the earliest possible moment, but the foolishness of women and children returning to many of the homes in their present condition cannot be stressed too strongly. "So far as Murchison is concerned, the sun has not gone out of business. There are good times coming in the form of a very considerable expenditure of public money there, which, it is assured, will of itself make business brisk, and benefit the whole district by increasing the amount of ready money in circulation. There is a big task ahead, but the majority of the people have the courage and faith to face it, and will ultimately reap their reward. “One of the immediate tasks Murchison has to tackle is removing from the minds of those who cannot view it for themselves damaging, impressions of the district which must have resulted from exaggerated reports given by excited people.” Mr. Fraser, in further remarks, said that the main newspaper reports had been fair in every way, but in one or two instances reports from excited people had got into print, giving a very absurd and exaggerated idea of the damage. Concluding, Mr. Fraser said that three weeks ago Murchison was regarded by many as a sinking ship. “Three years hence,” he said, “with a railway right into the tow rnship, with the main highways to the coasts and over Lewis Pass completed, and everybody happy and prosperous, it will be the envy of many who now regard it as a veritable ‘No Man’s Land’.”