Earthquake Risks

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20983, 11 October 1933, Page 8

Earthquake Risks

The Christchurch City Council, at its meeting on Monday evening, discussed a recommendation by its electricity committee to spend £IO,OOO to £ 12,000 in reconstructing the Municipal Electricity Department block so as to make it earthquake resisting. Perhaps wisely, the council decided not to act until it had received a report from its engineer on the state of all its buildings. It must be hoped, however, that the delay will not result in the matter being shelved indefinitely, for it is one in which, as the Mayor pointed out, the council lifts a clear duty to the community. Though it is more than two and a half years since the Napier earthquake, and though the lessons of that disaster have been set out explicitly by engineers, architects, and geologists, deplorably little has been done to minimise the effect of future earthquakes. And there will be earthquakes in the future. On that point the report of the Building Regulations Committee issued in June, 1931, is quite definite.

The people of ISiew Zealand must realise that the earthquake risk in this country is undoubtedly great, and that all structures, including buildings, if not properly designed and constructed to resist the destructive forces, will suffer in a severe earthquake. In future, the architect and the engineer must pay even greater attention to the importance of earthquake resistant construction, and must co-operate with the geologist and the seismologist in the practical application of scientific principles.

I Such a statement is alarming only if the advice it gives is ignored; and unhappily it is being ignored. Session after session the Building Construction Bill has been shelved 'on one excuse or another; nothing has been done to promote research into earthquake problems; and, what is unpardonable, buildings have been constructed since February, 1931, which do not embody any precautions against earthquakes. It is not pleasant to have to call attention to these facts. The dimensions of the Napier disaster were so much magnified abroad that New Zealanders are wisely reluctant to provoke public discussions about earthquake 1 risks. But it is not possible to be silent when neglect of comparatively inexpensive precautions threatens a serious loss of life and property in the future. It must therefore be hoped that the Prime Minister will insist on the Building Construction Bill becoming law this session and that the Christchurch City Council, and other local bodies, will set an example to the rest of the community by ensuring that their buildings are earthquake resisting".