EARTHQUAKE RISKS

Southland Times, Issue 25303, 5 June 1935, Page 6

EARTHQUAKE RISKS

Attention has been drawn again to earthquake risks, and the people of New Zealand have been reminded that so far little has been done to apply the lessons of the Napier disaster. Heavy loss of life in Baluchistan will recall sharply the fact that there was no warning of the Napier earthquake, and that no experts will give any part of the Dominion a guarantee that it will not be put to a similar test. Steps have been taken to devise a new code, under which new buildings will be designed to withstand heavy earth tremors, and which will ensure that the ornamentation will be kept free of features which may be shaken into the streets. Architects have' drawn attention to these dangers. In every town there are buildings bearing ornamental urns and similar features which would be toppled from their position by an earthquake and would probably injure or kill people ■who had sought safety in the streets. To remove these potential dangers would involve the owners of buildings in some expense and the safety measures will not be undertaken except under compulsion, but the expense must be borne if this country is to feel satisfied that it has taken reasonable precautions. The task of drawing up the new building code to covei’ these matters was referred to a Technical Committee and it is disquieting to find one member of that committee complaining that though a draft code has been prepared it has not been considered by the group of experts to which it has. been referred. Four city engineers, a Public Works Department engineer and a city solicitor comprise the expert group, and Mr C. K. Ford states that they have not met to discuss the draft code. Mr Ford adds to his complaint the rather startling declaration that

Buildings are still being erected in many parts of New Zealand which embrace in their construction all the errors and weaknesses which were a contributory cause to such a disastrous loss of life and property in Napier in 1931.

If the facts support Mr Ford’s statement, someone is assuming a responsibility, the gravity of which will be fully realized only if an earthquake comes. It is a long time since the need for a building code was accepted, and while it is under consideration there is hardly any restriction on those who are putting up new buildings and remodelling old ones. Architects who are alive to the dangers will do what they can to minimize the earthquake risks, but the final word is with their clients who may not care to undertake expenditure on meeting a danger they regard as remote. A national code will put all architects under the same set of rules and will make it possible for all of them to insist on the elimination of features that are dangerous. Mr Ford says:

It will be calamitous if the lessons, of the Napier earthquake are to be forgotten and the work already done upon the new buildings code to be allowed to remain uncompleted and unused. If this is permitted, someone will have to bear a very grave responsibility.

This statement is not too strong. It carries a warning to the Government and to the people of this country who should insist, with the Baluchistan disaster to give impetus to the demand, that the code be completed without further delay and brought into operation.