"MORAL IS PLAIN"

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 203, 23 August 1940, Page 3

"MORAL IS PLAIN"

EARTHQUAKE precautions ADVICE TO LOCAL BODIES Observation on earthquake precautions were made by Mr F. W,. Furkcrt, former undcr-secretary and engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department. "In the tumult of war such a tiling as an earthquake which kills only a dozen people is apt to be overlooked,"' suit! Mr Furkcrt, "On May 18 of this year an earthquake, 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 caused. "The summing-up of the position as given in a summary at the end. of the report of the official investigation was as follows: 'As in practically every other earthquake of Which analysis has been made, the fact has again been emphasised j 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 arc attributable directly to improper design and poor mortar, con crete failures to inadequate reinforcing and poor d.esign, failure in wood frame building to inadequate foundations, and improper bracing. Once again an earthquake lias proved that a "uniform building code." if correctly enforced, Avill help to prevent loss of life and property and will in large measure alleviate the serious after-effects of even a major earthquake.' . "The moral for New Zealand is plain," said Mi' Furkert. "The New Zealand Standards Institute has drawn up model by-laws to deal with earthquake resistant construction. Many boroughs and citics arc now. adopting them,, but all other local bodies controlling building construction would find it haul to justify their neglect to do the same if their district were the scene of another earthquake involving loss of life and propertj'."