Plans To Improve Building Research

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31621, 6 March 1968, Page 1

Plans To Improve Building Research

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 5.

The Minister of Science (Mr Taiboys) announced today that the Government had approved a proposal for the intensification and better co-ordination of building research.

He said negotiations for the setting up of a building research association were to follow as soon as possible. The total value of building permits issued was now nearly s4oom a year, and although a certain amount of building research was already in progress it was inadequate and scattered among various organisations.

The National Research Advisory Council reported in 1966 that an industry of this size and importance ought to have a better scientific service.

At present the industry was not even in a position to make full use of overseas developments, said Mr Taiboys. This was because additional research was usually necessary to adapt overseas findings to suit New Zealand conditions and materials

Mr Taiboys said the Government had reviewed a number of ways in which various organisations in the building industry could best implement the N.R.A.C. recommendation. “After discussion with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research,” he said, “the Master Builders’ Federation called a meeting of interested parties to consider the setting up of a building research association. “This meeting endorsed the proposal and the Government has given its approval.” The way was now open for detailed discussions between the industry, the D.S.I.R. and other departments concerned,

more especially the Ministry of Works.

“One of the main problems has been to find an equitable method whereby builders can contribute to the cost of research,” said Mr Taiboys, “but I feel confident a satisfactory solution can now be found.”

Mr Taiboys said other matters to be decided were the size of the organisation and the scope of its research programme and advisory services.

He said the proposed research association could do much to assist the industry to cope with the upsurge in building requirements which was expected to accompany an improvement in the economic situation. Mr D. C. Carrington, vicepresident of the Auckland Master Builders’ Association, said tonight that finance for the proposed building research association should come from those who would directly benefit from the research, from home owners and from the Government. Mr Carrington said he hoped that the present Building Research Bureau in Wellington would now fold up. The work it had been doing was outside the normal scope of such a bureau. He did not consider that the builder should have to contribute towards research costs. This would only add to his overheads and make buildings more expensive.

The major benefactors from the research would be the owners of homes and buildings and funds should come from them—perhaps through a small levy on each building, he said.