EARTHQUAKE PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20819, 11 March 1931, Page 10

EARTHQUAKE PROBLEMS.

Announcement by the Government of what it proposes to do in providing funds for the reconstruction of towns shattered by the earthquake bears upon, but does not dispose of, problems revealed in a Hastings message concerning the demolition of buildings and the replanning of ruined areas. Those who must rebuild or repair will be assisted, but not up to 100 per cent, of their losses, as the Prime Minister says definitely. Meantime some are likely to learn that those losses may be greater than they had expected. Experts, whose chief concern, naturally, is the actual condition of buildings, are reporting to the local authorities, who then have the duty of telling owners what is required of them for the public weal. As was bound to happen, all orders for demolition arc not being accepted without a murmur. Expert opinions do not always agree. If a propertyowner, told by the authorities that his building must come down, has been assured by an unofficial opinion he believes to be as reliable as the official view that such drastic action is not necessary he will naturally contest the order. Then, too, when plans for a general reconstruction scheme touch the interest of property-owners, mortgagees, and tenants, it is not surprising if they have reservations about making personal sacrifices for the general good. The difficulties suggested by these circumstances are only beginning. Thev will grow in size and complexity as the survey of the damaged areas proceeds. There is no direct or speedy way out of them. Many cases will be presented for consideration, few of them will be exactly alike. Those who are. responsible for the future of Napier and Hastings, and, to a lesser extent, the other damaged areas, have a long and difficult path to travel if

a satisfactory reconstruction scheme is to be achieved with a minimum of hardship to anybody. This last consideration, that of hardship, introduces the aspect of greatest delicacy and difficulty. It will often seem, perhaps, that • the private persons affected are not being helpful, or that they are inviting the use of all the powers local authorities have to deal with refractory propertyowners. Yet it should be. remembered that many such people have suffered heavy personal losses, that possibly they have seen the fruit of a lifetime's efforts destroyed in a few moments, that their own future is dark and difficult. They may not be fit, financially or psychologically, to answer the demands made on them by authority. The problems thus created must be solved on the spot. They call for the exercise of the utmost care and patience, lest some who have suffered by the earthquakes are made to suffer more by zeal for speedy reconstruction. All hope to see the ruined towns rise again as quickly as possible, but it is sincerely to be hoped that no injustice will be done, or avoidable hardship inflicted, in the process.