NEW STRUCTURES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 45, 23 February 1931, Page 3

NEW STRUCTURES.

REGULATIONS FOR BUILDING. COMMITTEE'S MANIFESTO. SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL ADVICE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. Sunday. The first meeting of the Buildings Regulations Committee, appointed by the Prime .Minister, under the chairmanship of Professor J. E. L. Cull, was held at Wellington yesterday. The work of the committee is very extensive, and will occupy a considerable time. As a matter of immediate urgency the committee has recommended that the Government should issue the following manifesto for the guidance of those who are planning reconstruction in the devastated areas:— '"That in the design of new structures, and, to some extent, in tiie restoration of existing structures, such as are passed by approved technical advice as being safe to reconstruct, no ornament such as overhanging parapets, cornices, etc.. of a dangerous character be permitted. "That designers be guided by the buildings in the stricken areas which have come through the recent shocks successfully. "That competent advice be engaged for tiie design of proposed structures, and tiiat calculations must be produced to show that the structure has been designed to resist earthquake stresses. "That, generally speaking, it is advised that structures of an unnecessarily composite character should be avoided and the general layout should be as simple and well-balanced as possible." These recommendations apply particularly to business premises. A further paragraph deals with the supply of technical advice as an emergency measure.