HON. H. ATMORE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1931, Page 3

HON. H. ATMORE

FAVOURS WOODEN SCHOOLS. (By '£ eleyraph —Per Press Association) NELSON, June 8. Speaking at the opening of new country schools at Brightwatcr and Spring Grove, the Aliuister of Education Hon. H. Atmore, referred to the policy that he had adopted regarding the erection of future schools. He believed thate there was some criticism directed at him on account of the demolition of an old building. ”1 condemned it,” lie added,..“alter the Public Works Engineer had stated it was absolutely unsafe', and should not be occupied again. 1 ’

As there appeared to be a good deal of difference of opinion throughout the I) minion as to the relative stability of brick buildings, he would like to make the point that every person killed in the Llawkes Bay earthquake, was killed by liri( ks. Three were killed by bricks in Wellington in the earthquake 0f,1848. Since the occupation of New Zealand by white people, there had not been one earthquake in the Dominion of sufficient violence to damage a wellconstructed wooden or reinforced concrete building. In the Nelson earthquake, every place damaged was «.* brick. He nut it to his hearers, as a well-known Auckland architect had put it to him: “What would an engim i-• think of a reinforced building if it had a joint every three ruches?” There was, he said, no danger to well constructed wooden buildings in New Zealand unless there was a greater! earthquake than the past, and that ( unlikely, according to people who had made a study of the question. A deputation of brick-makers had recently expressed to the Pime Minister some concern as to the attitude that he (the speaker) had taken up. If the brickmakers represented two millions’ worth of capital, he represented 250,000 children, and he was sure that tire people of Now Zealand would think that if there was any doubt as to the stability cf brick* buildings, the. doubt must ho exercised in favour of the children.

Speaking lajter in tho afternoon at the opening of the Spring Grove School the Minister said,that schools tliroug*out New Zealand were now being erect ed in wood. n. .In easing, Mr Atmore said the new: Nelson College hostels ■were-superior to-any other building in New Zealand.