Safeguards for Future Buildings

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7280, 6 October 1933, Page 8

Safeguards for Future Buildings

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. “I would have had this Bill put on tho Statute Book last session had it not been for the opposition of architects,” remarked the Prime Alinister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) to-day, when a deputation representing civil engineers, architects and scientific workers requested that the Building Construction Bill should be proceeded with. After the Napier earthquake, said Air Forbes, he was impressed with the necessity of doing something, and had appointed a committee, which brought down a valuable report. He had proposed to proceed writh legislation, but had found that organisation against the measure was so strong that the Government had not been able to proceed with the Bill. He was pleased to know that the differences had nowbeen overcome.

The Prime Alinister would not say that the Bill had been perfect, but the Government was quite willing to meet the interested parties and make amendments. If another disaster occurred and no provision was made, the Government would be held open to blamo for not having done something. Ho would be pleased to go into the matter of the Bill with the Public Works Alinister, and they would see what could be done. He would give an undertaking that the Bill would be placed before Parliament, and that Parliament would he given an opportunity of dealing with it.