RECONSTRUCTION PLANS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1938, Page 7

RECONSTRUCTION PLANS

ORGANISATION OF MEN AND MACHINERY. NO EFFORTS TO BE SPARED BY GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 29. “Preliminary arrangements have been made to organise men and machinery to tackle one of the Dominion’s major disasters,” said the Hon R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, today. “Mr A. J. Baker, acting Engin-eer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department,- has been instructed to get all the machinery we can muster, even if we have to stop other works temporarily, in order to give the maximum assistance in the affected areas. It is my intention later on, when there is some chance of travelling over the district, to pay it a visit and get some conception of the cost involved to rehabilitate it, and the type of organisation necessary to cope with it. It would be useless for me to waste my time at the moment, because it is impossible to view the area except from the air, and that will be done by competent men, who will be able to give a proper account of the extent of the damage, “I can assure all those affected, and the public generally, that the Government will spare no time or money in ge'tting the people back, and in giving the maximum relief to the victims of the flood.” Mr Semple said that the Government was grateful to the aero clubs in Hastings and Napier for their wonderful services at their own cost, and for the services of Union Airways, and the splendid spirit in which they had met the emergency. “In having doneeverything to co-operate with the Government,” he said, “they have shown a wonderful spirit, which indicates beyond all doubt that when fellow-citi-zens are in trouble there is always the spontaneous offer of assistance. It is highly commendable, and makes one feel that life is worth living. When it comes to showdown everyone springs into action.” A statement that local authorities had been authorised to transfer the services of men whose wages were subsidised or paid in full by the Labour Department from the various works on which they have been engaged to any work required in connection with the restoration of flood damage was made yesterday by the Minister of Labour, the Hon H. T. Armstrong. CONDITION OF ROADS. AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION REPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 19. The Automobile Association is in receipt of advice from the Hawke’s Bay association that no definite date can be given as to when the NapierTaupo Road will be open, though it would appear that there is little chance of it being open for another week. The road via Tiniroto between Wairoa and Gisborne is open for traffic but the Hawkes’ Bay Association make it very clear that the road is in a very rough condition and should be used by experienced drivers only. The Wairoa-Rotorua road via Lake Waikaremoana is open, but should be used by experienced drivers only. The Wairoa-Napier road is open from Wairoa southward as far as Sandy Creek, near Lake Tutira. Traffic, however, requires to use the three railway viaducts, Mohaka, Waikare and Matahoura, and again only experienced drivers should attempt to make use of this road in cases of necessity. The road between Napier and Lake Tutira is still blocked and present indications are that this will be the case for some time. WHIROKINO HIGHWAY. STILL BLOCKED TO TRAFFIC. By Telegraph —Press Association. PALMERSTON N.. April 29. The Whirokino highway - is still blocked to traffic, the height of the flood water over the road at 6 o’clock tonight being 3ft sin. It is emphasised by the Automobile Association (Manawatu) that week-end traffic will be unable to use the highway, and that the best route for motorists travelling south from Palmerston North is by Akers’s toll bridge. All northward traffic to Palmerston is strongly advised to divert at Levin and travel via Shannon. Heavy rain last night as well as high tides have caused a rise in the flood waters.