FLOOD DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1939, Page 6

FLOOD DAMAGE

CONSIDERATION OF RELIEF IN MARLBOROUGH HELP PROMISED BY MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE. BLENHEIM, December 8. Estimates of damage totalling approximately £30,000 were submitted ai a meeting held last night to assess the effects of the recent flood and to decide a measure for apportioning relief. Individual estimates were not considered by the meeting, however, the main business of which was to appoint an investigating committee representative of settlers, mercantile organisations. Government Departments and local bodies. The committee is to meet immediately and to appoint sub-com-mittees to undertake various phases of investigations. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Public Works (Mr Semple) who made a special trip from Christchurch to become personally acquainted with the situation. He gave an assurance that the Government must be sympathetic with suf/trers and would do all in its power to assist. At a committee meeting held subsequently. immediate steps for the purchase and distribution of fodder for stock in affected areas were decided on. Inquiry is also to be made as soon as possible regarding what labour will be required to clean flood rubbish from farms. A request for a subsidy of £5.000 for the repair work required on county roads and bridges was made to Mr Semple by the Marlborough County Council. Replying, Mr Semple promised to place the matter before his colleagues, but commented that the usual subsidy on flood damage was pound for pound.