LOCAL BYLAWS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 21

LOCAL BYLAWS

PRESENT HANDICAP

STANDARDISATION AIMED AT

In view of the strong and numerous representations from local bodies and public authorities throughout the Dominion, an active programme of standardisation of local body bylaws has been instituted.

"In making these submissions those concerned have stressed the general loss and handicap that results from the existing position," comments the annual report of the New Zealand Standards Institute. "A number of local authorities have pointed out that their bylaws have not been revised over periods extending from fifteen to fifty years, with the result that they are somewhat obsolete. Others have intimated that they are withholding revision or compilation of a new set of bylaws pending the issue of the standard provisions.

"In support of its representation one small local body emphasises that the preparation and printing of a set of bylaws for its own use would involve considerable cost, and that this cost, multiplied by the number of other local bodies similarly placed, would be avoided by the issue of a general set which could be adapted to local requirements of a detailed nature.

''Again, it has been stressed by other local authorities that it is not unusual to find the use of identical equipment compulsory in one locality yet prohibited in an adjacent district. This, it is pointed out, causes confusion to contractors and artisans; duplication of work and expense in preparing specifications, and heavy duplication of the stocks of suppliers. It also handicaps transfer of supplies and incurs heavy capital and obsolescence changes on reserve stocks and stores. Particularly in view of the comparatively limited quantity of this class of equipment and material that is necessary to satisfy local requirements, unnecessary variations in types, patterns, and dimensions so diversify its production as to render local manufacture uneconomic, and on this account we have to import the material and equipment which could otherwise be manufactured in the Dominion, and thus deny to the people |of the Dominion opportunity for further employment and enterprise. "The unnecessary diversification of our imported supplies correspondingly; increases production costs overseas which, together with the increased charges incurred at this end, expresses itself in added financial burdens, the only return for which is less efficient service. BUILDING STANDARDS. "Good progress has -been made up to the present in response to the representation received from local body interests, particularly in regard to the development of standards for building construction. A complete survey of the work necessary for the undertaking has been made, including a comprehensive plan of the divisions into which it will fall and the committees to which the various projects will be delegated have been drawn up as a guide for future activity. The subject is so extensive and diverse that it is not possible to make any adequate statement of the range of equipment, material, practices, and conditions which must be incorporated before the work is complete. "The organisation at present adopted centres round the building divisional council, under which works the building code committees —one of which deals with timber buildings and another with all buildings other than timber (for instance, brick, reinforced concrete, steel, and combinations of these materials). The latter committee also deals with the question of the general requirements to which all classes of building, whether timber or otherwise, should be subject.

"In addition to the committees and sub-committees developing the building code, there are a number of other committees working under the building divisional council dealing with various materials used by local authorities. The various bylaws controlling the use of the materials or equipment covered by the specifications will thus only require to lay down that such material or equipment shall comply with the requirements of New Zealand standard specifications by reference to titles and numbers only. This method will simplify the procedure when modification of any bylaw becomes desirable, or when advancing knowledge and experience appear to indicate that the specification for a material should be brought up to date, or that new specifications for new materials should be prepared."