FLIMSY DWELLINGS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1924, Page 4

FLIMSY DWELLINGS.

TI.M.TJKH SAVING NOT TO IMPERIL STABILITY.

WELLINGTON, June 21

While the object of the report on construction of dwellings submitted by the Forestry Department to the Timber Conference was the conservation of resources, it was significant at yes terdav’s .sitting that the committee’s recommendations were largely for lighter const ructions in several Instances. The thickness of weatherboards was reduced by the conference from the jin recommended bv the Forestry Department to d-Sin. .Mr Paterson; You will he putting

on brown paper next. Mr Kenlrieun strongly opposed the deletion of a clause stipulating supporting wooden sheathing behind asbestos sheeting exterior surfaces. Houses were being constructed in Wellington of which the outside walls consisted merely of such asbestos

The chairman (Mr W. M. Page): I know men who would not put a good motor-car in a garage with only asbestos walls. A'best<>s walls alone do not give much eomlort in a howling southerly.

Another practical reason given for the supporting sheathing was that without it sheeting was ton readily holed bv stones thrown by boys.

The use of rough wooden lining for walls and ceilings was excluded by the conference, the reasons being that timber would be conserved, lire risks eliminated, and death by tire and diseases would be minimised. The recommendation ns filially passed was that "the inside ot all external walls, ceilings, partition stud wadis -hall bo lined with loth and plaster, piaster board, fibrous plaster, asbestos sheet, or timber panelling, hall-inch rough lining being excluded.”