Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1942. WORK THAT SHOULD NOT WAIT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1942. WORK THAT SHOULD NOT WAIT.

IT is no doubt agreed that the lasting repair, reconstruction, or replacement of important business buildings and other large structures in Masterton which suffered damage in the June earthquake must be postponed until after the war. There should be no delay, however, in proceeding with the removal of dangerous portions of damaged structures and it ought to be possible also to make at least steady progress with the removal of useless parapets and other weighty tophamper on possibly strained buildings which might easily become dangerous.

Earthquakes like that of June usually are followed, at intervals over a more or less extended period, by other more or less disturbing shakes, like those experienced here and elsewhere during the weekend. Apart from new damage, of which a great deal has been done in some parts of the Wairarapa, "Wellington and other areas, the effect of these continuing shakes is liable at any time to be serious on buildings left standing m the damaged and weakened condition to which they were reduced by a preceding and more severe earthquake.

There are some buildings rather obviously in this category in Queen Street and in other business streets in Masterton. Where these buildings are concerned, the Borough Council should take at once whatever action is advisable in the interests of public safety.

Under the new by-laws just gazetted, the Borough Council presumably has all the powers that are necessary, but if any question regarding adequate powers is still open, the position ought to be cleared up forthwith. Some buildings are in a condition which appears to make possible the fall at any time of further masses of brickwork or other material. In that event injury or loss of life on a more or less serious scale might easily be involved. Should anything of this kind happen, a heavy responsibility would be incurred by those l "with whom it rests to institute proper and adequate safeguards. The work to be done in this wa/is so necessary and so urgent that undoubtedly it ought to be carried out without delay in spite of labour shortage and other difficulties.

At the last meeting of the Borough Council some of its members protested that the council should have been called together immediately after the June earthquake to deal with the question of chimney restoration. Are the members of the council now of opinion that due regard is being paid to the safety of the public in the matter of damaged buildings in the business streets?