EDGECUMBE BUILDING PERMIT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 3, 4 October 1948, Page 4

EDGECUMBE BUILDING PERMIT

Sir, —Since publication of the County Council’s decision to decline ■ my application, for a building permit a.t Edgecumbe, it has come to my attention that there is a mistaken impression abroad that it was' my intention to get in ahead of a returned serviceman to establish myself in business. I want' to make it clear that I had actually -been cai'rying on business as a boot repairer at Edgecumbe for some time before the application to the Council. I have seen the section of the report to the Council that dealt with the application, and realise that it' was open to the interpretation that I was seeking to start a business. I have also noted, with some surprise, that the letter from the Rehabilitation Officer, Rotorua, dealing with the same 'Subject, and informing the Council of the Whakatane Rehabilitation Committee’s objection to my application, was dated September 2, JUST TWO DAYS AFTER I POSTED MY APPLICATION TO THE COUNCIL. Is it customary for such applications to be made known to anyone outside the Council before consideration by the works committee? If so, I question the propriety of such a custom. In conclusion, I wish to state that I do not think that it is the policy of the Rehabilitation Department to interfere with the efficient working of any existing small business, and I feel that had they been acquainted with the full facts relating to my business, they would have realised they had no right or reason to object to my application which was merely for a relaxation of local building restrictions and not an application relating to my business in any way. Yours etc., . x S. M. HAWKINS.