SHAVINGS

Evening Star, Issue 21098, 10 May 1932, Page 2

SHAVINGS

SLIPPERY PAINTS ON ROOFS. At the recent conference of the New Zealand Federation of Master Painters, and Decorators a remit was submitted asking conference to consider what steps could be taken to prohibit or discourage the use of slippery graphite paints on roofs. After considerable discussion it was agreed—“ That the New Zealand Master Painters’ Federation supports the Now Zealand Master Plumbers’ Federation in any stops which it may take to secure the prohibition of graphite or other slippery paints on roofs.” EXCAVATION EXTRAORDINARY, Jt is difficult to realise from published accounts the magnitude of the new Lloyds Farrago scheme on the Indus (says a writer in a Homo journal). In tho making of the feeder canals the amount of earth excavated .was more than twice that of tho Panama Canal, hitherto regarded as the premier engineering wonder of tho world. This colossal work was made possible byusing special monster excavating machines weighing about 350 tons each, and digging eight to ten tons of material at a bite, at tho rate of more than one bite a minute. These machine shad a “reach” of 300 ft. Originally provided because of the shortage of native labour in a desert region, the machines wore found to be more economical than hand digging by what is probably the cheapest labour in tho world. Construction costs have been vastly reduced, and the work has been done to an exact schedule. Tho machines were designed and built by Messrs Ruston-Bucyrus Ltd., of Lincoln. BUILDINGS AND STREETS. “ Economical housing can not bo achieved on so'small a unit as the cottage, which rules out tho employment of tho steel frame or reinforced concrete, and other modern materials, as well as central heating and other items of up-tohlate equipment,” said an English architect recently-. Referring to city- streets and buildings under present condi - ms, lie advocated greater freedom as to height, which in buildings abutting on streets should be restricted only by an angle from the centre of the street, prescribed to ensure a desirable measure of light and air in the thoroughfare. His desirable future city of widely-spaced towers would probably eliminate the traffic difficulties, to which lie also referred. Even, however, with his limiting angle, which would entail a setting-back of tho upper stories, high buildings at present undoubtedly lead to increased traffic congestion, as New York and other cites of tho New World have found to their cost, ft would seem desirable that the prescribed angle Jjnc for height should ha reinforced by some regulation establishing a ratio between the traffic capacity of the street and tho potential population of tho buildings fronting on it. PALACE OF THE SOVIETS. The award of the jury in the competition, open to Russian and foreign architects, for a design for tho Palace of the Soviets, to be erected on the site of the demolished Cathedral of tho Holy- Redeemer, at Moscow, has now been announced, says an English journal. No design has been given premier place, but three have been adjudged equal. Those were submitted by Mr Hector Hamilton (American) and MM. H. M. Y'ofan and L. V. Zholtovsky (Russians) respectively-. These three authors have each been awarded prizes of 12,000 roubles. Tho three designs are said to vary greatly- Mr Hamil. ton’s is conceived on very simple linos, with a square centre block and semicircular wings; M. Y'ofan has a circular block with semi-circular wings, with a tower in the middle, surmounted by- the figure of a worker; and M. Zholtovsky's building has .been inspired by- a Roman amphitheatre. A commission of architectural experts, it is reported, will now work out a final design from these and other promising projects, and the erection of the' building will begin as soon ns tho cathedral debris is cleared away.