Architect Returns from ’Quake Regions

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 709, 8 July 1929, Page 9

Architect Returns from ’Quake Regions

“EVERY PENNY NEEDED" MR. C. R. FORD DISCUSSES RECONSTRUCTION

“It seems a little hard that only settlers should be included among those to benefit from the relief funds. Some shopkeepers are faced with reconstruction expense that is almost ruinous to them. “All indications are that every penny that can be collected will be needed. One business man will have to pay £2,000 to regain his footing. An hotelkeeper requires to spend £20,000 —the whole of his savings—ln rebuilding.” 'J'HESE observations were made by Mr. C. R. Ford, the Auckland architect, who returned this morning after a ten days’ tour of the earth-quake-stricken areas of the West Coast. Mr. Ford was one of a special committee set up by the Institute of Architects, which, with the approval of the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research, made a tour of inspection with the object of examining the damage and making recommendations as to suitable reconstruction, having regard to the possibility of future disturbances. The committee's report, which is to be placed before the institute shortly, will be available for publication. BUILDINGS WHICH FAILED Referring to the damage to buildings—the feature of the West Coast disaster which he examined professionally and upon which he felt thoroughly able to deliver a considered verdict—Mr. Ford said that the damage was the result of either bad design or bad construction, or, on the other hand, design and construction which was good enough under stable conditions, but which failed when the buildings were tested by the shocks. "The damage to buildings In the earthquake area is greater than would appear on the surface or after casual examination,” he said.

In Nelson, for instance, the appearance of the main streets is not indicative of the real state of affairs. One sees buildings with scaffolding up and one or two being pulled down, but, when a closer examination is made, it is found that many of the buildings are cracked. While in Nelson Mr. Ford was invited by the Nelson Borough Council to make an investigation of the damage to public buildings, and report. This he carried out, with the borough engineer, and in the course of his report he suggested that the council should take advantage of his committee’s report, to be placed before the institute. The party visited Nelson, Westport, and Murchison, facing bad travelling conditions and, at times, enduring intense cold. INCONGRUITIES “One can only generalise is describing the damage,” Mr. Ford continued. “A building would be standing undamaged on one side of the road while, on the other, a building of no better construction would be badly damaged. In one street we saw five wooden bouses, all exactly alike—built to the same design by one man. In four, all the chimneys were down, while in the fifth not one was damaged. The explanation of this, and many other apparent incongruities, is explainable only by the complex nature of the shocks. "In general, sound building construction, even with only a slight recognition of the possibility of lateral disturbance, has paid.” In answer to a question, Mr. Ford said that many brick buildings were found to be quite unharmed. In every case investigation showed that these were properly designed and built, a fact which suggested that brickwork was quite sound in earthquake country when intelligently designed and properly built. Lime mortar had been responsible for much of the damage in the cases where brickwork had suffered. Small shops had suffered badly in the ’quake, mainly because top-heavy brick facades were built on slender piers and the walls themselves were not held back adequately to the work behind.

PRECAUTIONS ARE CHEAP “To make residences and smaller public buildings so safe that no ene need have the slightest fear of earthquakes is a matter more of understanding the problem and designing accordingly, than of additional cost," he said. “In the case of smaller buildings the additional cost would not be worth considering, while even with larger buildings it would be a very small percentage of the total. The only risk is that, the big earthquake being forgotten, we shall relapse into our old ways.” Insurance companies, he understood, did not view earthquake insurance with favour, for obvious reasons. Building owners, however, had the matter in their own hands. Proper construction was the best possible insurance. Referring to the general spirit of the Westland people, Mr. Ford expressed great sympathy for those who had suffered and stressed the terrible nature of the experiences through which they had passed. Despite everything, the people were cheerful and hopeful.