The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1934. A DOMINION-WIDE ESCAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1934, Page 6

The Daily News

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1934. A DOMINION-WIDE ESCAPE.

OFFICES: NEW PLYMOUTH, Currie Street. STRATFORD, Broadway. HAWERA, High Street.

It is only a few days since a conference of architects warned the Dominion that unless very much more was done to minimise earthquake risks by the proper design of new buildings and the alteration of those not so designed disasters might be anticipated. The earthquake experienced on Monday night has reinforced the expert’s warning in a very ominous fashion. The outstanding feature is the general nature of the visitation. In that lies the explanation perhaps of the comparatively small amount of damage to property caused, and the small loss of life. Compared with the holocaust at Napier three years ago, and the still more awful experiences in India within the past few weeks, New Zealand’s experience on Monday was but a warning to put her house in order. It is admitted that in the presence of the unleashed forces of Nature man’s efforts to stay peril and to prevent disaster often appear puny or ineffective. But the experience at Napier and Hastings this week shows that in the centres of population it is possible to minimise the terrible effects of large earthquakes, though there is no means of avoiding them or of knowing their incidence or their location. The happening of Monday night will have added to the economic difficulties of the Dominion at a time when they were quite difficult enough. At the same time it is easy to see how very much greater the catastrophe might have been, and that it is possible to design buildings in such a way as to render them almost earthquake proof. Once again Taranaki has escaped the consequence of an earthquake that has done great damage in other parts of the Dominion. But this should not make for any slackening of effort on the part of local authorities to minimise as far as possible the risks from earthquakes. There is no need for panic either in conduct or in legislation. However, there is full need for concentration upon this work of reducing the risk of life and limb, to say nothing of the destruction of property, by insisting upon proper areas, and sound design for all buildings, especially for those in industrial or thickly populated centres. The Dominion has shown ability to overcome much worse emergencies than the one which has arisen so unexpectedly. There is no reason to fear that succour for those requiring it will not be forthcoming or that the normal life of the community will be. interrupted even in the districts most sorely affected by the shocks received on Monday night. Out of such an unhappy experience there must come courage that will not be daunted by occurrences that are unavoidable, sympathy and assistance for those in need, and a determination to ensure that everything the wit of man can devise shall be applied to overcome the damage or harm of which the agency is beyond his control. Something has been done in regard to the last of these conditions. The slight damage caused in the Hawke’s Bay towns shows that it is possible to do much by forethought to reduce the chance of damage by earthquake, and it is forethought that is sound business from every point of view. It was said by experts at the time of the Napier disaster that the Upheaval there might betoken other tremors throughout the Dominion. The surmise has proved more or less correct, particularly in the Wairoa and Gisborne districts. The warning this week has been more general, and shows that no part of New Zealand can afford to indulge in any feeling of false security. It is to be hoped that the warning will be accepted at its true value and that concerted action will follow.