CONTRACTORS' GREED

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1928, Page 5

CONTRACTORS' GREED

PRAGUE DISASTER INFERIOR MATERIAL USED. ONE-NINETEENTH CONCRETE

(Australian Press Association.) (Received 0 a.m.) PRAGUE, October 11

At midnight the dead totalled 32 and the condition of 12 of those rescued was hopeless. Thirty are still entombed.

, There is intense public indignation over the Government not supervising building construction. It is alleged that builders hurry their work under the system of tax rebate , for early completion. The principals of the firm which contracted for the collapsed building were arrested.

Rioting followed the arrest of 22 Communists who were haranguing crowds near the scene of the disaster, blaming the Government for inadequate control of builders.

The police were compelled to use their batons to disperse demonstrating workmen who alleged official negligence in supervising building materials.

The newspapers, in unanimously condemning the avarice of contractors in using inferior concrete, allege that it consisted of eighteen parts of sand to oi-e of cement, instead of the legal eight of sand to one of cement. Rescuers last night heard tappings and located a pocket beneath the 'debris in which were a living man and seven others unconscious.