BUILDING

Grey River Argus, 27 June 1929, Page 5

BUILDING

For Quake Zones MR HOLLAND’S COMMENT. 9 NELSON, June 26. Mr 11. g Holland, Leader of the I abour I’Jny, arrived in Nelson from accomp 'ed by Mrs. Holland and Miss A. L. Holland, his secretary, and was met by the Hon. W. W. Snodgras.-, M.L C.

Mr Holland first of all interviewed Mr Rogers, manager of the Anchor Line, re the possibility of continuing the passenger and cargo service to Westport. He next called at the Town Hall, and later had an opportunity of viewing the various structures in the main street, damaged by the recent earthquake shock. He was taken over Nelson College by Messrs Glasgow and J. G. Littlejohn. Mr Holland was saruck by the fact that as at Westport, a great deal of the damage done to certain buildings was accentuated by the heavy ornamentations with which such edifices were overweighed. Referring to the position at Westport and in the Buller district generally, Mr Holland said that a remarkable amount of cleaning up had been done, and every endeavour was being made to restore at least one fireplace in each home. Quite 95 per cent, of the chimneys in Westport and j the mining towns had fallen. The chimneys that ptood were in the main concrete. One fact established by the earthquake was that the brick building must go, and that wood and reinforced concrete must constitute the building material of the future. Furthermore, in earthquake areas, one storey buildings should be insisted upon. He was of the opinion that New Zealand would make a rapid recovery from the effects of the disaster. Indeed, the people of all the localities affected were already demonstrating their capacity to overcome widespread misfortune.