RUINED BUILDINGS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11451, 27 February 1931, Page 4

RUINED BUILDINGS

ALLEGATIONS WORKMANSHIP ID HAWKE S BAY DISCUSSION AT BUILDERS .UNION i mplicationsTstrongly resented (Press AtJSOciation-J INVERCARGILL, Feb. 26. At the annual conference of the New Zealand Builders a»d Contractors Federated Union of Employers to-day, some comment was made on the suggestion broadcast m connection with the recent earthquake disaster in Hawke’s Bay that the extent both of ruined buildings and of loss of life was attributed in a measure to faulty work by builders and trudes_ The view was expressed by several delegates who had visited the stricken area, that such a suggestion was qube unwarranted, and without any founda. tion of fact. . . , The following motion was earned unanimously after some discussion: "That the New Zealand Builders and Contractors Federation deprecates the action of individual architects in making public statements concerning the workmanship ol certain buildings destroyed in the recent disaster which occurred in tlie Hawke s Bay district before a thorough investigation of all the circumstances surrounding the erection of such buildings. The President of the Federation (Mr- N. Cole) stated that both architects and builders had learnt a great deal from this catastrophe, which has made very apparent the inadequacy of the existing by-laws to counteract the effect of forces not hitherto considered in construction work. At the same time,” he said, ‘we resent etronglv the implication made m some quarters that the tremendous extent of the ruin was due, even m a measure, to faulty work. by builder-, and tradesmen .This implication has been made purely by individuals and without any due investigations and I am certain that it can be directly refuted. Such a terrific upheaval was never contemplated by builders o. architects, and there was never an suspicion that it might occur- Bmldings erected under architects supe - virion and work done purely by build ers have suffered the same late, and there is no shadow of reflection on builders or workmen.” . Continuing, Mr- Cole said that the Government had undoubtedly adopted a wise course in deciding to frame Dominion building by-laws, having due regard to earthquake resistance, therebv ensuring best possible protection to life and property.