SCHOOL UNSAFE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 18

SCHOOL UNSAFE

WANGANUI BUILDING TO BE VACATED MINISTER’S INSTRUCTIONS From Our Own Correspondent WANGANUI, Wednesday. Expert advice has confirmed the opinion of the Minister of Education that the Wanganui Technical College building is unsafe. Amazement has been expressed that the two-storeyed brick structure has stood as long as it has done. The following statement was issued by the Minister last evening:— “From time to time doubts have been raised in my mind regarding the safety of the Wanganui Technical College main building. I therefore instructed the department’s architect to report on the matter. His report is so serious as to warrant a special investigation being made into the stability of the building by a structural engineer, and his report has just reaohed me. I have decided, in view of the serious defects disclosed, that it would be unwise for the main building to be occupied any longer.” Although the information was received at the college last evening the classes carried on as usual. Temporary classrooms will be arranged in other buildings, and a special meeting of the board is to be held today. Mr. Atmore said concerning the building: “I wish it to be thoroughly understood that I do not entertain any ideas that the Wanganui district is likely to suffer from earthquakes more than any other district. But earthquakes are factors which have to be provided for. lam not an alarmist, and do not want to scare people, and I do not want to spend any more money in Wanganui than is necessary, because I have so many other calls upon the department: but I am determined that no school shall be a potential source of danger through its not being properly constructed on lines which have taken the earthquake factor into consideration.” The main buildings of the Wanganui Technical College have brick walls of single thickness, two storeys high. A distinct bulge in one wall is noticeable, even to a casual observer, and fractures in the building are noticeable. These made progress after the last earthquake. Mr. T. B. Strong. Director of Education. with the board’s architect, arrived in Wanganui today to confer with the Technical College authorities. BUILDING DESERTED MARQUEES MAY BE USED From Our o\cn Correspondent .WANGANUI. Today. The Wanganui Technical College Board of Governors met yesterday to discuss the college building, which is known to be unsafe. Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, and the board’s architect were present. It was disclosed that the building has outsfde single brick walls unsupported at the top either by ties or studs and liable to collapse at any time. All classes stopped yesterday and it is proposed to move into marquees, 21 of which will be necessary to accommodate the pupils.