Dear Sir,

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 33, 4 October 1946, Page 4

Dear Sir,

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters.

HUTS AND BACHES

Sir, —In concluding my remarks to the press, I notice your footnote to my recent letter clearly indicate, that you lack the knowledge regarding the general procedure of builders and the question of permits. I always found it good policy to know what one is talking about, before expressing an opinion, and should any information be required on any subject, to obtain it “right from the horses” mouth and not from the “under strappers.” Allow me to show you that your footnote was entirely incorrect. As regards permits. You say, all that is required is a “simple application to the Borough Council for a permit, which “I have consistantly failed to' do.” Allow nae to inform you of the fact, that there is a Government Building Controller, domiciled at Hamilton, who controls all building permits. What he says comes first and all councils come second, so I will give you a little information which I received some twelve months, right from ‘the horses mouth,” Hamilton. The size of sheds to be erected in the Boorugh of Whakatane is limited to 10 x 8 and permits for same can only be given, provided the owner contemplates building a house. That proves my statement, that the homeless man, who can only afford a humble bach has no chance to obtain a permit and if the Borough Council waives its by-laws in this respect, it is acting contrary to Government regulations and instructions from the Government Building Controller, if it issues a permit. That is why I said, that nothing has been done by those who are well housed to demand the removal of all these restrictions. Now, Sir, as regards the general procedure of builders, let me in-

form you, that in any builders yard in New Zealand or Australia, anything from, a portable pig sty to a ready-cut house is constructed without any permit whatsoever. The matter of permits comes into the picture, when a purchaser desires to place anything he buys on a section of land governed by City or Borough Councils. For instance, in Sydney, Messrs. George Hudson Ltd. largest builders and timber merchants build thousands of baches, garages and ready-c.ut homes in their yards, but should a purchaser

of these products, want to drop a bach down in George Street, Sydney, a permit from the Council must be obtained by the purchaser. The same thing applies in New Zealand. Take Messrs. Ellis and Bernand in Hamilton, who do the same and I can quote numerous builders' in Auckland, Wellington, etc., and supply you with their catalogues and price lists. Do these firms get threats of prosecution for constructing various portable houses in their yards, or editorial comment about “consis-

tantly failing to make a simple application” for a permit. This proves such statements are sheer nonsense.

Does Mr W. Sullivan take out permits for making portable army huts or portable pig sties in his yard ? Should a purchaser of a dozen pig sties want to drop them on Hillcrest, the responsibility would be on the purchaser for a permit, but if the builder wanted to build them up there, then it would be his concern to get a permit. As seventy of the eighty baches I built, went out into the back blocks for use by sharemilkers, farmers and roadmen,

it is no concern of the Borough Council, whether they went to the back blocks or the South Sea Islands, and as to a few that were purchased and dropped around the Strand, I cannot be worried. Yours etc., STAN EVANS: (We feel that we are expected to reply to the above, though this would be much easier if our correspondent would keep to the only point raised by us. Without appearing to take up the cudgels for the Borough Council too much we can only reiterate our point and ask Mr Evans if he can honestly say that he has never constructed a shed, bach or building on any of his properties in the Borough of Whakatane without first obtaining the necessary permit to do so. Ed.)