EARTHQUAKE RISK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21735, 17 August 1940, Page 4

EARTHQUAKE RISK

Preventive Measures Building Construction I By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, August 16. Some observations on earthquake precautions were made by Mr F. W. Furket, a former under-secretary and engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department. “In the tumult of war such a thing as an earthquake which kills only a dozen people is apt to be overlooked," said Mr Furket. "On May 18 of this year an earthquake was felt over 60.000 square miles (more than half the area of New Zealand) in California, and an unknown but probably equal area in Mexico, occurred in South California, with its epicentre near the Mexican border. Widespread damage was I caused. The summing up of the position as given in the summary at the I end of the report of the official I investigation was as follows:—‘As in I practically every other earthquake of I which an analysis has been made, the fact has again been emphasised that adequate design will prevent earthquake damage to buildings, and that any standard material may be used safely if construction methods are sound. Masonry failures are attributable directly to improper design and poor mortar, and concrete failures to inadequate reinfpreing and poor design, failure in a wood frame building to inadequate foundations and improper bracing. Once again earthquake has proved that a uniform building code, if correctly enforced, will help prevent loss of life and i property, and will in large measure i alleviate serious after effects of even a I major earthquake.’ ” I “The moral for New Zealand is I plain,” said Mr Furket. “The New Zealand Standards Institute has drawn up model by-laws to deal with earthquake resistance construction, and many boroughs and cities are now adopting them, but all other local bodies controlling building construction would find it hard to justify their neglect to do the same if their district were the scene of another tearthquake involving loss of life and property.”