Where Credit Is Due

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 249, 18 July 1942, Page 8

Where Credit Is Due

Sir—After the recent earthquake, I gave your reporter a short interview, mainly on the quality of the brickwork iu buildings with brick-bearing piers and walls. Those remarks, I feel, did not go nearly far enough; they should have included the conscientious building contractors, as well as the conscientious workmen —past and present. I am convinced that had the mortar used iu Wellington’s brick buildings been on a par with-much of that which the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake brought to light, most of Wellington's brick buildings would have been lev-, elled, and there would have been no small loss of life. There is a side to the matter of structural soundness that the general public know very little about, and that is the city building bylaws, which set out just what will.be permitted and how work in connexion with the erection of buildings shall be carried out. Of equal importance m assuring structural soundness, is the efficient work of the city engineers staff: only architects and builders know the responsibility this department shoulders, and the outstanding efficiency of the engineers and inspectors. This is surely the time,'l think, to pay tribute to the above-mentioned departmental officers —past and present.—l am, etc.—EDMUND ANSCOMBE. Wellington, July 16.