EARTHQUAKE BY-LAWS

Evening Star, Issue 20863, 5 August 1931, Page 7

EARTHQUAKE BY-LAWS

NATIONAL REGULATION OF BUILDINGS LOCAL POWERS AND OBLIGATIONS SPECIAL FEE CHARGEABLE [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 4. Described as an Act to make better provision for the design and construction of buildings with a view to protection of life and property from damage by earthquake or other national disaster, legislation giving effect to the recommendations, of the building regulations committee was to-day introduced in the House and read a first time. The Bill provides that it shall not bo lawful for any person to erect, commence, or to continue to erect or to reconstruct, or to substantially alter any building without a permit from the local authority in the particular district affected. Permits must not be issued unless they are in conformity with the provisions of the regulations and by-laws made under the Act, but the powers of local bodies, conferred independently of the Act, are not to be limited. Local authorities are empowered to make by-laws affecting (11 the design and construction of buildings and the methods of building construction; (2) heights; (3) forces to be allowed for in design; (41 working stresses of loads allowable in construction; (5) the materials to be used on construction and the qualities and proportions _of such materials; ifil fire prevention and control; (7) means or ingress and _ egress; _ (81 plans, sketches, calculations, specifications, and other particulars to be submitted for the approval of the local authority; (9) the procedure in relation to application for and the issue of permits; (101 requiring, in respect of erection, reconstruction, or alteration, the appointment of a clerk of works, or other qualified person,_ whose duties shall include the obligation forthwith to report to the local authority concerned whenever he becomes aware that the requirements _of the by-laws in relation to the erection of such buildings are not being complied with; (11) the conditions subject to which buildings erected for any purpose may be used for any other purposes; (12) the fees payable to local authorities for permits, in addition to the special fees charged under the Act.

Copies of every by-law made under the Act are to be forwarded to the Minister of Works, who will have the newer of disallowing them wholly, or in part. The Minister may call on local authorities to make by-laws dealing with the matters set out above. If a local authority does not comply with the requisition in three months the Governor-General may make such by-laws as he considers fit. The Governor-General may also make bylaws respecting the erection, reconstruction, or substantial alteration of buildings within the limits of any harbour. He is further empowered to make model by-laws,_ which may be adopted in whole or in part, and with or without variation, by any local authority; or may, at the request of any local authority, be applied by the Minister to the district controlled by that authority. . . If required to do so by the Minister, every local authority to which an application for a building permit is made shall 'furnish the Minister with copies of all plans, sketches, calculations, specifications, and other particulars' supplied by the applicant, who will bear the expense. Representatives of the Government are given power to inspect any works undertaken in any district, with the object of ascertaining whether the requirements of the Act were being complied with._ Any person obstructing inspection is liable on conviction to a fine of £IOO. Local authorities are to obtain the services of a technical adviser in order to secure proper examination of plans, and by special arrangements can obtain the services of officers of the Works Department. In the event cf failure to appoint a clerk of _ works, power is -given the local authority concerned or the Minister to make such appointment at the expense of owner of the building. Local authorities may order tho demolition of any buildings < erected in contravention of the provisions of the Act. Should the owner fail to comply with such order, authority is given to make application to the Magistrate’s Court. Failure to comply with the court’s order will make the owner, on summary conviction, liable to a fine of £SO, and the local authority may proceed to the work of demolition at the expense of the owner. A special fee, at the rate of onefourth of 1 per cent, of the cost of the buildings erected under the Act, is to be charged, and paid into the public account. An amount not exceeding one-eighth of 1 per cent, of the amount on which the fee has been computed is to be applied towards the cost of administration of the Act, and the residue is to _be applied in payment of expenses incurred for investigations undertaken with a view to improvement of building designs in relation to earthquake resistance.