THEATRE FOR EDGECUMBE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 31, 7 December 1943, Page 5

THEATRE FOR EDGECUMBE

QUESTION OF CONSTRUCTION

BKICIC AUK A' BY-LAAV

The question of whether or not the Whakatane County Council should modify its recently constituted by-laws governing the recognition of brick areas in certain settlements throughout the county was again under keen discussion when the application for the construction of a rough caste picture theatre at Edgecumbc came up for finalisation last Tuesday. Cr MeCrae'ken said that to make such a concession would be tantamount to .scrapping the. whole of the building by-law and was against it. He would therefore move that the application be declined. The chairman (Mr L. Burnett) seconded. Cr Smith .said he. considered buihU ings of the rough caste type every bit as secure as brick or reinforced concrete.

•'lt is not a question of the expense," declar Cr Hunter. "It know that the owners arc willing to spend a substantial sum. The trouble is they cannot get. the materials to comply witli the by-laws." Cr MeCready-said that if the reason for the formulation of. the bylaws was' to be justified he could not see how the council could be expected to make any departure. The public had to be protected. Cr Burt: The building restrictions might go on for two or three years yet. How is tlie. owner going to live in the meant hue if we prevent his means of livilihood? Cr MeCready: What about his insurance; Cr Hunter: I've told you that expense doesn't come, into it. Its going to cost them just about as much to build in rough caste as in concrete and brick. They can't, get the steel. About ninety-nine per cent, of the settlers out. there, want this building.

Cr Cawte said the council would look foolish to amend its by-laws when the first application was made!

Tlie motion was then put to the meeting and, carried.

Cr Hunter rose to put an amendment but was declared too late as the motion had-already been passed.