SETTLERS’ TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1922, Page 7

SETTLERS’ TROUBLES.

THE DAMAGE IN OMOANA, HELP URGENTLY NEEDED The troubles of the Omoana settlers as a result of the recent cloudburst were further ventilated at Saturday’s meeting of the Eltham County Council. Cr. A. McWilliam said that the damage was beyond the power of the council to repair and they could only renew their efforts to urge the Government to give relief. He mentioned •some of the hardships the settlers were undergoing, and said that many were •forced to leave the district on account of the impossible state of the communications. Members of the works committee reported having visited the locality and they were of opinion that the matter was beyond the council. The trouble had not been brought about by any fault or neglect on the part of the council, and the Government should be urged to help. The district was in a frightful state as a result of the cloudburst and if communications were not op.ened up it would go back, and no one would live there. Other members pointed out that the damage done was incredible unless it had been seen. A Government grant was the only hope for the district, and if this was not -forthcoming “it was a sad lookout.” The chairman (Mr. C. J. Belcher) said that Mr. O. Hawkdn, M.P., had done all that was possible in the matter. There was a great deal of unemployment in the country and he could not see where the unemployed could be better employed than in opening up communications with Omoana. He was very disappointed that the Government had not come forward. Cr. McWilliam compared the position of the settlers in the district with that of more fortunately placed people. Grants were for new post offices and such buildings where they were not urgently needed, and yet the, back country, where the need of nelp was a life and death matter, could get little assistance. They had to pay for postal and educational facilities When the towns had these necessities free. New Zealand could not afford to neglect its back country and it was the duty of the Government to make good the damage done by the Omoana calamity. The engineer (Mr. Fitzgerald) said the council had spent all its free money from the Government and the Public Works had only £2OO of free money left to expend. The matter will be placed before the Minister for Public Works (Hon. J. G. Coates) when he visits Taranaki this month.