Breach Of Building Laws Brings Fines

Chronicle (Levin), 29 January 1949, Page 4

Breach Of Building Laws Brings Fines

An unusual ca'se in whifh both the owner-builder and the plumbihg stib-contractor were charged with proceeding with certaih construction work otherwise thdn ih accotdance with that laid down in the per'mit was heard in the- Magistrate's Court, Lpvin, on Friday. The Work feferred to "was the fitting of galvajiised iron spoatin'g and downpipe to a house in Levin. The charg'e was brought by the Buildihg; Controller against William Bryant Potter, building contractof, and W. Jehseri and Company, plumbers; bbth of Levin. Mr. J. Todd appeared for Potter, while bawrehce Jenisen fepfesen'ted his hlm. The magistrate, Mr. A. M. Go.ulding-, convicted and finbd Potter £1 10s and Jensen artd Company £4. Costs amounted to £1 11s in each case. Pottef pleaded not guilty and Jenseh' and Company guilty.. ^ ; For the Building, ContrOller, Mr.ti .1. McGregor called MarOus HarVey, a civil sefvant employed ih the , offtce' of the controller in Palmerston North. Witness gave evidehce Of the issue Of the pefmit to the owher-buildef, Potter, and told the Oouft how he had ihspected the house and had found the galvanised iron spouting and down-pipe. It was contehded by Mr. Todd ' t'hat a charge could not possibly be laid against Pottef; He submittedL that ih the regulation's relating to the charge the word "used" could hot be construed to fefer to Potter, Who did not actually use the mat'erial. Mr. Goulding: I think that would be too narrow a view of the regulations. He uses the hiateriais dirough the plumber. I must, I therefore, lfold the charge pfoved agaihst "hihi. Jensen admitted that he was aware that he could hot use the materials without a special permit, but said that at the time it could be bought in unlimited quantities. Questioned by Mr. Goulding, witness, Harvey, said: that he was not aware of any application for a pefmit. He was aware that it had been Used On several houses.