REBUILDING WHEN WAR IS OVER

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 64, 9 December 1940, Page 6

REBUILDING WHEN WAR IS OVER

The Architects’ Part At the general meeting last week of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, mention was made by the chairman, Mr IV. J. McKeon, of the magnitude of the task which would confront the people of England in reinstating their towns when the war was over. Huge areas in the cities, notably in the East End of London, would have to be rebuilt, he said, and it was the architects’ responsibility to ensure that the mistakes of the past were eliminated. The hardships through which people in these areas were going could hardly be over-estimated, but with proper foresight aud good planning, that suffering could pave the way for greatly improved living and working conditions iu the future. 'The problems aud difficulties of the evacuation of city areas might also lead to the realization of greatly improved living conditions. Children who had come from congested slum areas to the spaciousness and beauty of the countryside would be able when they returned to take some of that beauty back to the cities.

Reference was made to the sympathetic attitude of the Building Controller to the problems of the architect iu this country. The shortage of various essential building materials and the problem of substitution of alternative materials for those unobtainable was discussed. Projected building schemes may have to be abandoned or seriously modified after much work has been done on them, and it was felt that co-operation with the Building Controller should lie sought at. ;ui early stage so as to avoid much wasted time and work. The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mr. ll'. .1. McKeon (reelected) ; vice-chairman. Mr. IV. E. Lavelle: honorary secretary and treasurer. Mr. Graham Dawson: committee, Messrs. J. M. Dawson, IV. M. Page. F. E. Greenish, IV. Gray Young. IV. K. Cooke, J. I. King and H. C. Alorton; honorary auditor, Mr. D. G. Johnston.