SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21361, 15 June 1931, Page 7

SCHOOL BUILDINGS

THE DANGERS OF BRICK AVOIDANCE OF EARTHQUAKE RISK (Peb United Fbess Association.) NELSON, June 13. Ini regard to a criticism directed against the Minister of Education (Mr H. Atmore) by the chairman of the Terrace End School Committee at Palmerston North, the Minister has made the following reply: The whole question resolves itself into consideration of the safety of the school children, and if the chairman of the committee referred to had been in full possession of the facts in connection with the earthquakes of 1929 and this year he would not have levelled his unfounded criticism. Immediately the Hawke’s Bay earthquake occurred I telegraphed through New ’Zealand stopping the construction of all brick 1 work on school buildings and ordered an immediate inspection of those buildings already in occupation by children. This was a precautionary measure on which the Government has been congratulated. I visited' Hawke’s Bay on the day after the earthquake and, found that practically every one of the 260 deaths was caused by the collapse of brick buildings. I saw on the floor of'the wooden courthouse in Napier 39 victims of the collapse of brick buildings, including some school children. In the Wellington earthquake of 1848 nearly all the brick buildings were thrown down and the three deaths that then occurred were caused by bricks.

Quite recently an influential deputation representing the brickmakers of the Dominion waited upon the Prime Minister to protest against my attitude in regard to the use of, bricks in school buildings. The Prime Minister was asked to stay and curb the Minister of Education in his attitude. Mr Forbes replied in these words: “In regard to the building construction of school .buildings, if there ,is. any question of doubt about any materials it is the Minister’s duty to have the material about which there is the least doubt. The Government would be blamed immediately if it used , unsuitable materials in its buildings and an earthquake disaster .occurred. We have no right to place children in buildings of material which has not proved satisfactory.” When the Prime Minister was reminded that the decisions of the Minister of Education had had a tremendous effect upon public opinion, Mr Forbes replied: “ That may be so. The yery earthquake itself and; the opinions expressed l ! at that time were bound to have that effect on the use of bricks in buildings. The impressions created were adverse to brick.” This fine reply _ of the 'Prime Minister gives a good indication of the proper attitude to be taken up by all those in authorityx in connection with school buildings and the consequent safety of the 250,000 children in the schools of New Zealand. The Dilworth Institute Committee at Auckland recently offered a prize for the best design for the erection of an £BO,OOO building for the purposes of the institute, and the prize was awarded in December last to Mr Henry White, a well-known Sydney architect. After the Hawke’s Bay earthquake Mr White visited that district, and as a result he advised the Dilworth trustees not to build in brick. The trustees thereupon decided to erect buildings'- of : reinforced concrete. The Murchison earthquake caused a loss through the destruction of the bri«k buildings in the Nelson Boys’ College area of over £40,000, whilst at the Girls’ Col- 1 lege, which is a wooden building, the sum of £4l only was expended, and this on account of falling brick chimneys. The Girls’ College is an old building erected in 1882. The Boys’ College was erected in 1905.

The insurance companies in New Zealand are charging a tariff of 6s per £IOO for insurance against earthquake for buildings constructed of wood or iron frame, but for brick or.stone 15s. But if the building is to be erected on reclaimed ground, then the tariff for a brick building is 20s per £IOO.

I know it is unfortunate for those who hgve invested money in brick works that the results of the recent earthquakes-have proved conclusively that bricks should not be used for building construction in earthquake countries, but the paramount consideration for the Minister of Education is the safety of the children, and, as the Prime Minister finely stated, it is the Minister’s duty to have material for schools about which there is the least doubt. That is my attitude, and lam sure it will meet with the commendation of all parents. The difficulty in connection with the Central School at Palmerston North is on account of its being., a two-toreyed building with some unsatisfactory top gear. I have had reports made by architects and engineers, and as there was a difference of opinion, the Prime Minister suggested that we should have an independent opinion from Professor Cull, of Christchurch. Professor Cull has suggested that two Wellington experts should visit and report on this school, and this has occasioned some delay, which was unavoidable. 1

I repeat that as Minister of Education I am responsible for the safety of the children in our schools, and that duty I shall not shirk, whatever criticism may be levelled against me. Buildings can be erected in, wood and the interest on the difference in cost between such a wooden, school and a brick one, spread over a period of 36 years, would suffice for the replacement of the wooden building. If it is a hostel that is to be built, then it can be built in reinforced concrete at no appreciably greater cost, if any, than for a brick building. There is no reflection necessarily on the architects or builders in that I have ordered a rigid inspection of all brick schools, but the results of the recent earthquakes have shown that more strength is required in buildings than was considered necessary prior to the Murchison earthquake in 1929. In brick work there is a construction joint every three inches, and one may ask how would any engineer like 'to depend upon reinforced concrete if a construction joint was necessary every three inches. There is no need for any alarm in the minds of New Zealanders at a possible recurrence of earthquakes if we build with a full recognition of the factthat we are building in an earthquake country, for the earthquakes since ■ 1840 in New Zealand have not damaged well-built wooden houses, and since the advent of reinforced concrete work no well-constructed building of that description has been damaged by earthquake action.

In conclusion, I repeat that the deaths in Hawke’s Bay were caused by the collapse of brick buildings, and we must guard against a repetition.

Speaking at the meeting of the Terrace End School Committee last, week_ the chairman (Mr W. B. Cameron) said:— “ I think the Minister has been a bit premature ■ about putting statements around regarding brick buildings. There will be some difficulty in- getting the children back into Central School, and if he goes on the way he is doing, we will not have the parents sending their children back to any of the brick schools. Does he expect us to tear down all the brick schools and erect wooden ones? He should have taken the whole thin;' in committee.” - ,