SAFER BUILDINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21743, 7 March 1934, Page 8

SAFER BUILDINGS

EARTHQUAKE ARMS REGULATIONS BEING DRAFTED INTENTIONS OF GOVERNMENT LOCAL BODIES' RESPONSIBILITY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] C'HRISTCHURCH. Tuesday That the Government possessed power which it intended to n>e to draw np mode! building regulations for all cities likely to be affected by earthquake was made clear to-day by Dr. E. Marsden, director of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He said a committee of the New Zealand Standards Institute was engaged drawing up a set of model regulations, which it was hoped to have completed in about four months. On the committee were architects, engineers, surveyors, builders and representatives of local bodies. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. V». Forbes, had given an assurance that if members reached a fairly unanimous agreement the model regulations would be applied to all cities and boroughs in areas liable to earthquakes throughout the Dominion.

The work of drawing up the regulations was complex and difficult, said Dr. Marsden. Already investigations were being made by a geologist to discover what lessons could be learned for the benefit of the committee from the earthquake last night.

The Prime Minister said the intention of the Government was that local bodies would he given the responsibility of administering the balding regulations to minimise risks from earthquakes without Government supervision. The Government would not reconsider its decision not to proceed with the Building Construction Bill. The supervision of buildings in construction and the administration of the regulations was felt to be purely a matter for local bodies, and the Government believed the local bodies were capable of doing the work-