THE FIRE RISK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 547, 30 June 1909, Page 4

THE FIRE RISK.

BUILDING REGULATIONS NOT TO

. 1 Strong exception is. taken to the remarks ;of Mr. i'\ (i. Cray, who, ini.alettor to .the , isditor, 1 .which'! appeared on Saturday, oirtiie 'subject of lire risks /andbuilding'regulations; saiU: .''Whyshould . not regulation's •bo .adoptedvfoV 1 a full inquiry; to bo srfmo bfficer' appointed for the'purposo,: into every-fire which takes placo ? .\\ liy should not by-laws he introducedto. prevent . the aggregation of wooden buildings, and, defective: brick buildings, which have, 110 proper brick 1 oiv'coneroto division walls .• «, i :■ '.''i'he! :b'uilding regulations of this city, and particularly those applying: tortile '.brick area/' said Mr. W. H. Morton, City Engineer,. 'fare - Well in •,advance of-,'any other city in: Australasia. They provide: ;ahd alloy, for : all : the.; newer'methods: of construction, such as; reinforced . concrete and 'steel-fram«d buildings, and, ill thai respect, Wellington ■'was"the first city in' the Dominion to /incorporate regulations'• to meet the. 1 more modern forms of "construction. ' The regulations that are now being- adopted in Melbourne r are '. on.' the ; lines of . thoso'. that have been: in.force some time here. I keep in close touch with that city, and know exactly -: what' is.' gomg on there. Some little time 'back' .there. 'whs :no regulation' to (prevent wooden from being ''Erected close' alongside one another, without even ] .air-space, and. I got the council .to '.agree that,' if the'external wall of"ono; house was within three feet of another, the ,wall shoulu be' of brick, or concrete. • Notwithstanding a. 'prolonged ■ discussion, which extended .over some.':.time, not. r ohe insurance*'man calne forward : and helped , mo, to (carry 'the proposal,' nor. did I receive ,the slightest assistfrom.the ..insurance.' companies ■in this one important building reform.": -V ; ' "If/thero .is. a bigger 'riskjhero than elsejWhere,''. continued ; Mr. Morton, "tho cause of' the-difference ,is not the.: building: regulations, 'but ..rather; the ( fault of the insurance companies, themselves. Why don't , the companies have. a; building ordinance'of their, own, as they do in -America, and England,' and .'.base.; the premiums ■ on ; the" risk existent on, account. of the - methods ■of construction P In pilose .countries, .tho best literature on !. fare/risks; -was printed bj; the' insurance companies, .who conducted tests of various kinds for- the regulation, of premiums. I don't -bear;.of ."attytbihg' of;, the . kind . being Idone here. They should have a, building ordinance of. their own; and not lean on the city for anything.".' v '. .: . .- j ;