departments, which had accumulated due to the pressure of other duties. 1,429 statutory notices were issued, compared with 318 in 1966-67 and 240 in the previous year. 206 of the notices were served in one large multi-storey building group alone, while in many other instances only one notice has been necessary in a building.
4.14. The heavy death toll which occurred as the result of fires during the year, pointed the necessity for the Building Authority to take firm action where illegal alterations increased potential danger in the event of fire. In one case, where illegal alterations made access to an alternative staircase impossible for some of the occupants of the building and such access was essential in the event of fire, the Building Authority was prepared to seek Closure Orders rather than allow this situation to continue. In the event, the wide publicity given to the Building Authority's intention was sufficient to induce the owners to alter the building before the Closure Orders were obtained.
4.15. In the event of an owner's persistent refusal to comply with the terms of a statutory notice, the Government contractor may be called in to do the work and the costs may be subsequently recovered from the owner. During the past year this action was taken in the case of 18 outstanding notices only, which reflects well on the ability of staff to deal with building owners in a helpful and tactful manner in circumstances which could so easily engender ill-feeling.
4.16. Liaison was maintained with other Government departments on building uses and operations which appeared to conflict with legislation administered by those departments. This activity was mainly associated with staircase obstructions, with factory use of unsuitable premises and with squatter type accommodation on Crown Land and on flat roofs.
## DANGEROUS BUILDINGS DIVISION
Chief Building Surveyor:
J. G. STEAN, A.R.I.C.S.
4.17. The work of this Division followed the pattern of previous years with action stemming from emergencies, complaints from the public and the programme of planned surveys.
4.18. There were no serious typhoons or extremely heavy rains during the year and the absence of these extremes of weather is reflected in the
35
departments, which had accumulated due to the pressure of other duties. 1,429 statutory notices were issued, compared with 318 in 1966-67 and 240 in the previous year. 206 of the notices were served in one large multi-storey building group alone, while in many other instances only one notice has been necessary in a building.
4.14. The heavy death toll which occurred as the result of fires during the year, pointed the necessity for the Building Authority to take firm action where illegal alterations increased potential danger in the event of fire. In one case, where illegal alterations made access to an alternative staircase impossible for some of the occupants of the building and such access was essential in the event of fire, the Building Authority was prepared to seek Closure Orders rather than allow this situation to continue. In the event, the wide publicity given to the Building Authority's intention was sufficient to induce the owners to alter the building before the Closure Orders were obtained.
4.15. In the event of an owner's persistent refusal to comply with the terms of a statutory notice, the Government contractor may be called in to do the work and the costs may be subsequently recovered from the owner. During the past year this action was taken in the case of 18 out- standing notices only, which reflects well on the ability of staff to deal with building owners in a helpful and tactful manner in circumstances which could so easily engender ill-feeling.
4.16. Liaison was maintained with other Government departments on building uses and operations which appeared to conflict with legisla- tion administered by those departments. This activity was mainly as- sociated with staircase obstructions, with factory use of unsuitable premises and with squatter type accommodation on Crown Land and on flat roofs.
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS DIVISION
Chief Building Surveyor:
J. G. STEAN, A.R.I.C.S.
4.17. The work of this Division followed the pattern of previous years with action stemming from emergencies, complaints from the public and the programme of planned surveys.
4.18. There were no serious typhoons or extremely heavy rains during the year and the absence of these extremes of weather is reflected in the
35
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