A FIRM REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 14

A FIRM REPLY

BEICKS AND SCHOOLS CHILD LIFE COMES FIRST (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NELSON, This Day.' In the course of a reply to criticism directed against him by the chairman of the Terrace End School Committee at Palrnerston North, the Minister of Education (the . Hon. H. Atmore) states that the whole question resolves itself into consideration for the safety of the school children, and if the chairman of the committee referred to had been in full possession of tho facts in connection with the earthquakes of 1929 and this year respectively, ho would not have levelled his unfounded criticism.

"Immediately the Hawkes Bay earthquake occurred," says Mr. Atmorc, "I telegraphed through New Zealand stopping construction on all brickwork on school > buildings, and ordered an immediate inspection of those buildings already in occupation by children. This was a precautionary measure on which the Government has been congratulated. I visited Hawkes Bay the day after the earthquake and found that practically every one of the 260 deaths was caused by the collapse of brick buildings. Quite recently an influential deputation representing1 the brickmakers of tlie Dominion waited upon the Prime Minister to protest against my attitude in regard to the use of bricks in school buildings. The Prime Minister was asked to stay and curb tlie_ Minister of Education in his attitude. The Prime Minister's reply. was in these words: 'In regard to the building construction of school buildings, if there is any question of doubt about any material, it is the Minister's duty to have material about which there is the least doubt. The Government wouW be blamed immediately if it used unsuitable materials in its buildings and earthquake and disaster occurred. We have not a right to place children in buildings of material "which has not proved satisfactory.'

'' When the Prime Minister was re- [ minded that the decisions of the Minister of Education had had tremendous effect upon public opinion,- Mr. Forbes replied: 'That may be so. The very earthquake itself and the opinions expressed at that time were bound to have that effect on the use of bricks in buildings. The impressions created were adverse to brick.' This fine reply of the Prime Minister gives a good indication of the proper attitude to be taken up by all those in authority in connection with school buildings and the consequent safety of the 250,000 children in the schools of New Zealand.

"The Murchison earthquake caused loss through the destruction of brick buildings in the Nelson Boys' College area of over £40,000, whilst at the Girls' College, which is a wooden building, the sum of £41 only was expended, and this on account of the falling of brick chimneys. I know it is unfortunate for those who have invested money, in brickworks that the results of the recent earthquakes have proved conclusively that bricks should not be used for building construction in earthquake countries, but the paramount consideration for the Minister of Education is the safety of the children, and, as the Prime Minister finely stated, 'It is the Minister's duty to have the material for schools about which there is the' least doubt.' I repeat that as Minister of Education I am responsible for the safety of the children, and that duty I shall not shirk whatever criticism may be levelled against me."