EARTHQUAKE RISK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 95, 1 February 1934, Page 3

EARTHQUAKE RISK

BUILDING BY-LAWS. LEFT TO LOCAL BODIES. to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, January 30. The Government proposes to leave entirely »in the hands of local authorities the responsibility for imposing safeguards, in building regulations, against the risk of destruction by earthquake. This is the final development of a long controversy which commenced with the proposal that there should be some form of State, or national supervision oyer the plans of future buildings, in view of the generally accepted admission that in many parts of the Dominion the risk of damage from earthquake is very real if buildings are not constructed to withstand stresses in addition to those of gravity and wind pressure. There was a widespread protest against the original plan of making it compulsory to submit building specifications for examination by State officer's, and the charging of a fee for the building permit, in addition to that levied by local authorities. This proposal never reached the Statute Book, and there was a further suggestion that model by-laws should be enacted,' and their administration placed in the control of local bodies, who already deal with structures in their areas. Now it has been decided to leave the enforcement of earthquake safeguards entirely to local bodies, but they, will be provided with model by-laws, and there will- be a national supervision of very general character, which will be entrusted to the New Zealand Standards Board. The latter body is associated with the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, and has a number of committees, with a membership of experts and persons engaged in the building and engineering industries, as well as local body officers. Its principal function is to set standards which will become uniform and thus avoid a good deal of waste in industrial and other processes. The expert investigation of the causes of damage in the Hawke's Bay earthquake produced much valuable information as to the safeguards which should be taken against earthquake shocks, and the additional cost of properly designed structures was considered to be not more than o per cent, greater ' than the cost of tho usual structure which is not adequately "tied."

It is considered that if the matter is left to local authorities, they will have a sense of responsibility for the safety of residents in their own area, and that the model by-laws will be adequately enforced. 'The Hawke's Bay .Earthquakes Act of 1931. contained extensive powers to make regulations dealing with such emergencies, and there is one clause .covering the control over building operations which the Act specifically states may have either a particular or a general application. Thus it is considered that the problem of earthquake precautions can be dealt with under its provisions, without the necessity for further legislation.