USE OF TIMBER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 27, 1 February 1924, Page 8

USE OF TIMBER

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE

STANDARDISING BUILDING

BYLAWS

LEAD GIVEN BY, FORESTRY

SERVICE.

The following letter has been addressed to the secretary of the Wellington Builders' Association by the Director of Forestry, inviting the appointment of a representative to attend a conference of city and borough engineers, and representatives of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers, the New Zealand Federated Sawmillers' Association, the New Zealand Federated Timber Merchants' Association, and various Government Departments, for the purpose of considering certain aspects of the housing question. It will be tie object of the conference to devise 'ways and means whereby better and cheaper houses and buildings may be secured, and a more balanced utilisation of the various grades of timbers may be effected. I Many irregularities have arisen in building regulationsl and! bylaws as a result of common usage and of tradition. The < rectifying of these presents no insurmountable difficulties, and has long been desired by engineers, architects, builders, and sawmillers.' It is hoped that the united'action of the various local bodies, Government Departments, associations, etc., represented at the conference will result in a workable solution oi the problems involved. "It is proposed to call a conference in Wellingtoa early this year of all Government and local authorities to consider the revision and standardisation of regulations and bylaws relating to the use of timber in building. "Existing bylaws differ materially 'throughout the Dominion. In exterior construction, for- instance, some call for all heart; others allow part sap and part heart, while still others permit f the use of all sap timber. Generally speaking, specifications' are such that the usefulness of certain grades of timber for specific purposes is entirely disregarded. Timbers of a' grade higher than actually required are often demanded, with the result that markets for lower grades disappear. The sawmiller, to procure the necessary profit on .hi s output, is forced to charge higher prices for his bettergrade timbers than if a good market existed for th« lower, grades.' Un the other j hand, the grading of the timber is often poor, and the use of wood infected with dry rot and borer and of unseasoned timber is permitted. . "I would much appreciate your comments regarding the proposed conference. Your association is vitally interested in the question of, timber' construction, and it is felt that a' representative appointed on behalf of the building industry of the Dominion would materially assist the conference in its deliberations. It is suggested that your representative should be empowered with full authority |to adopt any revision or standardisation of regulations which might be thought advisable. "The 6th May, 1924, is advanced as a tentative'date for the commencement of the conference, which will most likely extend over • a period of four- days. If this date is acceptable to alt concerned, members will be requested to submit, by 4th April, reports on any subjects in which' they have specialised.' These reports will then be circularised to allow'i ■of full consideration prior to' the conference. The State Forest Service proposes to compile for general information a digest of the various New Zealand building regulations halting to the use of timber. This will be circularised at an early date. ■ •■ -'' ■ ■ ■ -. "I am of opinion that this matter would be much facilitated if a conference to consider the whole question of building regulations could be arranged at the same time. The relation of building to town planning, zoning, fire protection, and other matters affecting the public welfare,is such as to> require urgent attention in many parts of the Dominion. Various, local authority engineers and architects have stressed the necessity for such a conference. It is, however, a matter which can hardly be launched by this .service, but inasmuch a3 it may facilitate the conference . dealing with building bylaws relating to -the use of timber, your comments and action will be highly valued.