MINISTER'S DIRECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1931, Page 9

MINISTER'S DIRECTION

DUNEDIN CRITICISM

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN,' 18th February. "[ "It seems to me that some peoplali take fright," said the chairman, Mr*! J. Wallace, when a communication front the Directoi- of Education was befor« the Otago Education Board at* thinj morning's meeting. The Director of Education wrote say-| ing he was directed by the Ministeri to say that in view of the recent several earthquake in Jlawkes Bay and of thej fact that brick buildings of all descriptions suffered more severely than, build-- " ings erected in any other material, tho' Minister had directed that all work of construction on educational buildings ia' brick must cease forthwith. If therm j were in. their district any such buildings in course of erection arrangement* should be made accordingly. He was also directed to ask that all brick '■ buildings in the district at present ia| occupation should be immediately inspected by thel architect and a report furnished to the Department through the board. In this connection, tha Public Works Department had been; requested to instruct its district en-i gineer or its resident engineer to collaborate with the board's architect o* his visit of inspection. The engineer V report would be sent separately to th» permanent head of his own Depart- i ment. The request was for the inspec-! tion. of all brick educational building*' whether erected from plans prepared by; the architect or otherwise. Mr. Wallace said that as far as Otago and Southland were concerned), the direction seemed to bo bunkum. H«! could not remember a decent earthquake in Dunedin. Mr. J. Horn: "There was" one in:; Otago ia 1875. which knocked down i chimneys in. Oamaru and Port Chal-' mers." , The chairman, said that the instructions would have to be carried out, but attention should be drawn to the fact; that tho foundations for the Albany; Street School were practically in. The Director's letter was noted, an A the. question, of the Albany Street School building was left ia the hand* of the chairman for him to get ia touca!; with the Department.