EARTHQUAKE REPAIRS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 248, 17 July 1942, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE REPAIRS

Proportion Of Labour For Wellington STATEMENT BY MR. FRASER “I am not satisfied with the way the Government’s instructions have been carried out,” said the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, after a consultation yesterday with the mayor, Mr. Hislop, city councillors, the city engineer, Mr. K. Luke, representatives of the Public Works Department, the Army and the local builders’ committee, concerning repairs to earthquake damage In Wellington. Mr. Fraser said it appeared to him that a misunderstanding had oc-' curred among those responsible as to the proportion of labour for Wellington City. “I am deeply concerned to get the work done, and I have given directions that everything possible should be done toward that end by the Government organizations concerned,” said Mr. Fraser. He added that he expected, and had a right to expect, that, instead of bickering, there should be the closest consultation and co-operation. “I am not concerned with futile arguments about the matter,” he said, “and I don’t propose to engage in'controversy with anyone on the subject. I am pleased at all times to consult and co-operate with representatives of the Wellington City Council or any other local body who are anxious to do the best they can for the sufferers from the earthquake.” Mr. Fraser said that in the first place it had been disclosed that there was a great scarcity of bricklayers. Secondly, he understood that the Public Works Department had made itself responsible for the labour f<Tr repairs in the Wairarapa and the Manawatu, leaving the responsibility for the’labour for Wellington city to the local builders’ committee. Labour had been engaged to come to Wellington, but for various reasons had not arrived. One of the reasons for this was that some of the men wanted to be guaranteed more than 48 hours’ work a week.. That matter had since been adjusted, and as there was now no limitation on the hours that could be worked, the men were expected to come forward. Essential Industry. It had been considered at first by those handling the situation, continued Mr. Fraser, that the position could be met by the workers who had undertaken to come to Wellington, but disappointment ensued. The Minister of National Service had now declared the work an essential industry, and as a result it could be better controlled and directed. The Army had been given instructions to release men for the work, and it was still endeavouring to get more men of the type required from the camps all over New Zealand. The fact remained, however, that the situation was made more difficult because of the great shortage of bricklayers. . According to a statement submitted by the Public Works Department, only 81 bricklayers are registered in the whole of the Wellington industrial district, from Wellington as far as New Plymouth on the west coast, and Napier on the east coast, including the Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Moreover, a good number of those are not now engaged in the trade. The statement said that 100 men, including 35 bricklayers, were now engaged ou earthquake repair work in Wellington city. The 35 included nine bricklayers who arrived from Auckland on Wednesday. More men were expected yesterday and in the next few weeks from Auckland and Invercargill. The statement also gave some approximate figures relating to damage and re pair work in the Wairarapa. These were as follows: —Total number of chimneys down, 12,000; total number of first-line chimneys down, 5700; approximate number of houses without cooking and heating facilities after the earthquake, 3200; total number of chimneys already attended to, 2000.

MAYOR’S STATEMENT

Urgent Minimum Repairs “I am hopeful that we will now be able to get on with the job. It all rests with the supply of the necessary labour in accordance with the undertaking given us,” said the mayor, Mr. Hislop, after he, with some members of the council, and senior officers of the City Corporation, had waited on Mr. Eraser to seek immediate relief for the situation. “During the discussion,” he added, “it was pointed out that while the immediate work was to effect minimum repairs needed to enable domestic life to be resumed, it was vital that a scheme of complete reconstruction should be organized and carried out. Not only should labour be made available for immediate repairs, but that it should continue with us so that complete restoration work can be done. But if we have only enough men to deal with the most serious cases in, say, a month, then we must have first things done first-leaks must be repaired and temporary chimneys built to make those houses at least habitable. After that we can get on with the complete restoration work. On the other hand, in the event of the miracle of there being ample labour to do the whole job in a short time, we would do the whole job iu one bite instead of two.” ________