BUILDING BY-LAWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24423, 8 October 1940, Page 8

BUILDING BY-LAWS

STANDARD CODE OPPOSED DEPUTATIONS TO COUNCIL, Opposition to the adoption by the Dunedin City Council of the standard code of building by-laws was expressed by deputations representing the Otago branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and the Dunedin Builders’ Association to lasi evening’s meeting of the council. It was argued by the deputation that the adoption of the code would mean a marked increase in the cost of all types of building construction, and furthermore would impose upon Dunedin a strength of building not justified by the earthquake risk. It was submitted by Mr H. McDowell Smith, on behalf of the Architects' Institute, that parts 1 to 6 of the standard code should not be adopted without consideration of the remaining 11 parts. “ Costs have 'been increased heavily already,” he said, “and the war period is not a suitable time for the imposition of a further increase through more stringent by-laws Undoubtedly the adoption of the code would impose increases and consequently a lessening of work.” Mr McDowell Smith drew a comparison between the building of corporation houses,' built under the city by-laws, and the Government houses, built approximately according to the stand ard code. The difference was between 5 to 7 per cent, in favour of the corporation houses. “There are bound to be anomalies in the administration of the code,” he went on, “ and I would not be at all surprised if it leads to the Government taking over the administration of all building in New Zealand. Under this code, the city ,would merely be acting as agent for Government department in any case.” The fact that Dunedin was practically outside the earthquake zone, which was reflected in the comparison between insurance rates here and elsewhere, was emphasised by Mr H. Mandeno. He pointed out also that the cost to the city of administering .he code would be an unnecessarily heavy item. No doubt the standard code was suited to Wellington and other northern cities, but it was by no means necessarily suited to Dunedin. Representatives of the Dunedin Builders’Association expressed the association’s disapproval of the standard code in its present form. It would be detrimental to the building trade and business generally, they argued. There was no reason why a modification of the code should not apply to Dunedin. The council later decided that the points raised by the deputation merited close examination, and the question was referred back to the Works Committee on the understanding that it shall be discussed again by a full meeting of the council.