FIVE THOUSAND DWELLINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20727, 25 February 1931, Page 2

FIVE THOUSAND DWELLINGS

EARTHQUAKE RESTORATION TASK URGENT WORK IN HAND , [Special to the ‘Star.’] WELLINGTON, February 24. The Prime Minister conferred, to-day with the Hon. Robert Masters niter his return from a further visit to Hawke’s Bay, Mr Furkert (engineer-in-chief of the Works Department), who organised the clearing of Napier streets immediately after the earthquake, and Mr A. D. Park (Secretary to the Treasury). The Government intends immediately to consider the problem of rebuilding the business sections of the two devastated towns, involving financial measures in regard to which proposals will bo submitted to Parliament. A more immediate necessity, now well in hand, is to make as many dwellings as possible habitable. Mr Forbes informed your correspondent that this work is being pushed ahead in accordance with the Relief Committee's decision that one chimney in each dwelling should ho made Safe for use. The Public Works Department, lie explained, will carry out this work in a systematic manner. Every house will receive attention from its working gangs, irrespective of the owner’s ability to pay the cost. ‘■The important point,” said Mr Forbes, ‘‘is to got the work done regularly and completely. Those who can afford to pay for it will be in due course assessed after their circumstances have been taken into consideration. but meanwhile no discrimination can be exercised.” As almost every dwelling in Hastings and Napier must receive expert attention the magnitude of the task can be gauged by the enumeration taken in 1926, since which there have been further additions to the total of houses in those towns. At the date of the last census there were 3,249 dwellings in Napier, of which 3,030 were constructed of wood. 60 of concrete, and 40 of brick. Hastings had 2,335 dwellings, 2,145 being of wood, 45 of concrete, and 33 of brick. Rented houses in Napier totalled 1,649. Hastings 1,053. SAFE TO OVERSEAS STEAMERS ROADSTEAD NOT DANGEROUS [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND. February 24. No shoaling of a dangerous nature was discovered at Napier by the Government steamer Matai, which reached Auckland from the east coast lighthouses to-night. The observations showed that the lied of the roadstead had risen in parts from 6ft to 7ft, but in places the soundings gave tfce same depth of water as is shown on the charts. Nothing less than 33ft of water was found from two miles off shore to half a mile from the breakwater. According to Captain J. Burgess, master of the Matai, the investigations show that tho anchorage in the roadstead is just as safe for overseas shipping as it was before the earthquake.

REINSTATEMENT OF BOROUGH SERVICES

ESTIMATED TO GOST £280,000

[Per United- Press Association.]

NAPIER, February 24. The weather to-night is cold and showery, with a southerly wind. The sea is calm and the rivers are normal. At a mooting of tho City Council this evening it was decided that the halfholiday this year should be observed on Thursdays and the late night on Saturdays. It is officially stated that it will cost £280,000 to reinstate the borough services. It is expected that tho reinstatement of one chimney in each house will nm into £30,000. Water and electric light extensions are still in pro fi re: first shock to-day, a moderately strong one, was felt at 8.30 p.m. STATE LOTTERY DISAPPROVED [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 24.

Unanimous that such a scheme was not a wise one, the council of tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce this evening decided not to support the suggestion made to the Government by the Palmerston North Chamber that a" State lottery should be organised to secure money . to rehabilitate the stricken towns in the earthquake area.

BUILDING. REGULATIONS

ARCHITECTS HOT SUFFICIENTLY REPRESENTED

[Per United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, February 24. The inadequate representation of architects upon tho Building Regulations Committee set up by tho Government was stressed at a meeting of tho Executive Committee of the New Zealand Institute of Architects this afternoon. As a result of the meeting, tho Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) has been urged to appoint several more registered architects. Exception to the personnel! of the committee, which is composed of eight civil enginees and two architects, was expressed by tho Auckland architects on Monday, and they also lodged a protest against the preponderance of civil engineers. Tho telegram which was forwarded to the Prime Minister at the conclusion of tho meeting held to-day is as follows j—“At a meeting of the Executive Committee of tho New Zealand Institute of Architects held this afternoon disappointment was expressed that architects were not more fully represented on the Government Building Regulations Committee, and we respectfully suggest the appointment of several more architects.” It was recalled that at its annual general meeting held recently the Institute of .Architects made an offer to co-operalq with the Government' in the preparation of a building code. Receipt ot this inmssage had been acknowledged by ibo Prime Minister. Similar offers had been made twice—in ,1927 and again in 2928.

A committee which was set up by the architects has visited Napier and Hastings and the surrounding districts, and is proceeding with its report. The suggestion was made that this committee, which comprises Messrs H. Mandeno (Dunedin), president of the instituteI' 1 . L. Moodie (Auckland), C. R. Ford (Auckland), A. S. Mitchell (Wellington), H. F. Butcher (Wellington), and F. E. Greenish (Wellington), should he added to the committee set up by the Government.

RELIEF FUNDS [Pkh United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 24. The Prime Minister’s fund now stands at £170,136 17s 9d. LONDON, February 23. The New Zealand' earthquake fund has reached £36,995. SCHEME TO MEET LOSSES [Pan Unites Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 25. “ If the people of New Zealand are five times as generous as they ever have been in regard to donations, such sum will only help to deal with personal losses and other expenditures entailed in the welfare of the thousands of people who are now homeless and workless in Hawke’s Bay,” stated Mr A. E. dull, M.P. for Waipawa, who has forwarded to the Prime Minister for consideration of the Government the details of , a scheme for meeting the losses entailed by the earthquake. Mr dull compared the catastrophe to war, and suggests that its methods of relief bo treated similarly. He, therefore, proposes to raise a national loan in London, the interest, and sinking fund in connection therewith to be made a charge either on a percentage or a flat rate basis on all future insurance premiums, both fire and accident, throughout the dominion, the insurance companies to act as receivers for such premiums, which would be handed to the Government in much the same way as third party risks on motor owners are now received.

Mr Jull’s scheme was discussed by tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, but it was decided to defer decision until Parliament had bad the opportunity of going into the question. The following teachers from Napier Technical College have been transferred to other colleges in various parts of tho dominion:—C. H. E. Strack, 8.A., Dunedin; C. C. Geddes, M.Sc., Christchurch: J. B. Brown, Palmerston North J. W. Olphert, M.A., Wanganui ; Miss E. M. Bampton, 8.A., Westport; Miss A. Rockstrow, B.Sc., Lower Hutt; Miss E. Taylor, M.A., Wellington.