EARTHQUAKE RISK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21926, 9 October 1934, Page 5

EARTHQUAKE RISK

VALUE OF PRECAUTIONS SOUNDNESS IN BUILDING "SANE STUDY AND ACTION" "Devastating; earthquakes do not occur in New Zealand frequently enough to make the average mind realise emphnt cally, as it should, how imperative aid possible precaution against earthquake disaster in," said Mr. H, F. Baird, of the staff of tho Christchurch Magnetic Observatory, in a ree<snt address to the Public Servieo Administration Society, states tho Press. "Perhaps it is not unnatural," said Mr. Baird, "that unexpected happening;} such as earthquakes shot Id inspire sudden but brief fear. The relative infrequency of large shocks has created a careless complex, which makes tha creating of confidence in stricken areas rather more difficult than the facta warrant. Already overseas people havo erased to be surprised by earthquakes in New Zealand, but what they arc already expressing surprise about is that even since 1931 buildings have been erected which do not embody any precautions against earthquakes." Promotion of Safety In many lands for several veari?, said Mr. Baird, seismologists had been, trying to make it widely known that public safety could be promoted by engineer!!, architects, contractors, insurance companies, and property owners. It could be shown by such men that it was reasonably practicable and economical to. build for safety against disasters due to earthquakes and earthquake fires. Seismologists knew with increasing certainty that earthquakes were dangerous chiefly because adequate precautions against their effects wero nob taken. It was possible to insure against damage by proper study of the geographic distribution of earthquakes, their historical sequence, their activities, and their effects on buildings. Seismology was yet but a young science, and the conquest for confidence seemed slow. "In the past—according to the enlightenment appropriate to the times ia New Zealand —too much confidence reposed on tho contingency that severe earthquake:? would not happen," said Mr. Baird. "Now we all know very definitely that they do happen. Consequently, fo;r confidence, we simply must —as we can —build and plan community systems which will wink, wave and wobble indifferent to earthquake' motions. These trials over, the systems have been sorely shaken, but most important of all, it is reassuring that they safely stand their ground." Japan's Disregarded Warning Mr. Baird discussed the difficulties of seismologists, and recalled that as. early as 1905 an eminent Japanese seismologist warned the authorities in Tokio that there was ""a possibility of the city being visited by a disastrous earthquake, to be followed by a general conflagration. should the system of fire protection remain unimproved. His warnings, however, had not been heeded., and & disaster had overtaken Tokio in 1923. The restoration of confidence in a community after an earthquake was fairly easy, provided the experience gained from similar happenings was regarded. After-shocks were normal. It was said that they might occur erratically over a period of 12 mouths after the main shock, but 12 .years was :i more likely period. "Confidence against earthquakes demands one thing above all others," concluded Mr. Baird, "and that is sound building principles. It is a problem to bo faced by all. New Zealanders must; pay more attention to the earthquake problem. Wild hysteria is not warranted, but sane study and action are imperative."