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Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1935, Page 4

In regard to the risks of damage by earthquakes, a. writer states it lias been pointed out to the Government that, had the buildings in Napier been built on earthquake-resisting principles before 1931, the loss of life and property in the great earthquake uJ that year would have been relatively small and that to construct buildings on earthquakeresisting principles means at the most an increase of 10 per cent to the cost. The earthquake in the North Island in March of last year emphasised tr.ese points. Where damage occurred it was due entirely to (obvious weaknesses of construction and to the existence of overhanging cornices and balconies. When the horror of the Napier disaster was fresh in its mind the Government expressed a commendable determination to enforce a national building code and to this end drafted a. Building Construction Bill which was placed before Parliament. Unfortunately. the bill was dropped because of organised - opposition from building interests and lias not since neeii reii.jtrodueed. has toad, tilie' Government has decided, though it seems to .have forgotten its decision, to draw up a set of model by-laws which local bodies are to be lree to adopt. Although oommittees were appointed as long ago as last September to form these by-laws, their work has as yet produced no tangible result; and as far as can be discovered from inquiries in Wellington the Government has ceased to regard the question as urgent or important. This indifference is the more inexcusable when it is remembered that after the earthquake of last year it was admitted publicly b v tiie Minister for Industries and Commerce that property owners who suffered loss in an earthquake would in future lie regarded as having a just claim on the State for compensation. If tbe Government is prepared 'to draw on the public funds to compensate private loss it is surely its duty to ensure that this loss shall not be larger than is necessary.