QUAKE REPAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 39, 14 August 1942, Page 4

QUAKE REPAIRS

REGULATIONS GAZETTED

Earthquake Damage Emergency Regulations were gazetted last night. They give power to a local authority to serve notice on an owner requiring him to repair earthquake damage or to remove any dangerous part of his premises, and also empower entry on to adjacent premises, where the local authority considers that necessary, for the purpose of repairing earthquake damage. , Any owner failing to comply with a notice or who obstructs any person exercising any powers under the regulations will be liable to a fine of £50. Provision is made for a right of appeal within three days to a Magistrate,, who may confirm, modify, or cancel the notice. Ah adjacent owner has'a right to recover damage if "he suffers any loss.

. If ah owner refuses to comply with a notice, the local authority may do the work, and it may also undertake to repair any damage at the request of the owner. The local authority also has the right to recover money expended, together with interest at 5 per cent, if demanded. A further provision entitles a local authority to register money expended as a charge on the land.

The regulations are to be administered by the Public Works Department. The Minister of Public Works (Mr. Armstrong) said last night that the regulations were intended to operate temporarily until permanent lefislation could be enacted.