CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1931, Page 6

CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS

No one could cavil at the attitude taken by the Minister of Labour, Mr. S. G. Smith, when speaking for the Government in regard to the proposed new buildings for the Central School at New Plymouth, which were to have been erected in brick. In view of the al'moet universal collapse of brick structures in the earthquake-stricken areas last week it is not surprising that parents and all interested in the school should demand that gome other building material be Used.' The Minister was ayihpathetic, and though he could scarcely be expected to commit' the Government forthwith to so drastic an alteration of plans, he assured the meeting of citizens that the lessons of the Hawke’s Bay catastrophe would not be ignored wherever public buildings were being erected. He intimated also that building regulations generally would be considerably tightened, and recognition of the fact of. New Zealand’s being a country subject to earthquakes would b? insisted upon in all future designs for buildings. That is only conimon-senge and is not likely to arouge qny antagonism. The architects of the Dominion will be the first to further the wishes of the Government in this regard, and the necessity for placing public safety first is too obvious to need argument. So far as the Central School building is concerned the plans are to be re-examined by experts in the light of last week's earthquake, and the public will be. advised of their decision and the reasons prompting it. That is all that can be reasonably expected in the meantime.