EXTENDED TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 June 1942, Page 3

EXTENDED TOUR

Made by Prime Minister ORGANISATION IN MASTERTON PRAISED ASSURANCE OF GOVERNMENT CO-OPERATION IN RESTORATION WORK The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, visited the Wairarapa yesterday to inspect earthquake damage and ascertain the position in the district. He was accompanied by Mr Ashwin, Secretary of the Treasury. At Masterton, Mr Fraser expressed his deep admiration and appreciation of the manner in which all concerned had risen to the occasion and of the fine spirit in which the people of the Wairarapa were facing the situation. After making a special visit to Masterton early yesterday morning. Mr J. Robertson, M.P., reported on the situation to the Prime Minister in Wellington. As Mr Robertson is chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, he had to return to Wellington to enable the Estimates to be put through. At that particular time, Mr Fraser observed, Mr Robertson’s presence in Wellington was more important than his (Mr Fraser’s) as Prime Minister. Mr Ben Roberts, member for Wairarapa, was present in his electorate yesterday visiting various centres. Mr Fraser left Wellington yesterday morning to make a tour of the affected areas in the Wairarapa, visiting Featherston, Greytown, Carterton, Masterton and Eketahuna. At each centre he met the mayors, town clerks, coiinty and other local body representatives to discuss the situation with them. He said he was very much impressed with the organisation in Masterton, where Mr Jordan and the local authorities had an efficient system in operation. Mr Fraser expressed his satisfaction with the organisation which had been set up to deal with the position and said he was particularly appreciative of the fine way in which the Army, the Borough and County staffs, the E.P.S., the mayors and county chairmen, the railways, Post Offce, Public Works Department, police and other services had risen to the occasion. He was very gratified to know how quickly the Public Works Department had got on to the job. There was complete coordination between the Housing Department and the Commissioner of Defence Construction in making men and materials available to undertake repair work. Mr Fraser expressed the sympathy of the Government and of the whole of Parliament to the people of the district and said everyone was most thankful that there was no loss of life and little personal injury. The Government, he said, would co-operate in every possible way to repair the damage and restore the whole of the area as.soon as possible.