BUILDING BREACHES

Chronicle (Levin), 23 March 1949, Page 4

BUILDING BREACHES

House-to-house Inspection Asked For Some frank speaking, • duling vhich it was alleged that widesprea'd Gontempt existed locally for the Bufidihg Emergency Regula- . tiohs, and that large quantities of cement were being used for patns and drives, was indulged in by sevCrai councillors at Mo'nday hignt's meeting of the Levin Borough Gouhcii, a house-to-house inspection teing one of the resultant suggestions. Ihe discussion arose when Cr, R. A. Frederikson asked for the rescin'ding of a motion passed at the last council meeting eoncerning two persons reported by the borough building inspector for alleged breaehes of the regulations. It Was decided at that meeting, m v the face of strong opposition from •%

Cr. Fredetikson, that txie borough sol'icitors be asked for their opinion as to the council's powers, and instructing them to prosecute if the way was clear to do so. When moving his motion on MOfiday hight, Cr. Fre'derikson , said tnat he could not see any reason for the council entering on to someone else's preserves. He considered that it was not the Levin Borough Council's province to take action against the offenders, but that of the Building -Controller. • "If we take action against these two,' tnen I must ask that the bui'ding inspector report all cases, contihued Cr. Frederikson. "There is a considerable amount of concrete work being 'done in the open and if the building inspector is going to work on one or two, then he should inspect every property m Levin." . „ "It is an absolute open slather iust now," said Cr. A. J. H. Allen. "Peopie are putting down paths and drives and building fences in fact

everytning under the sun — witmoub permits. We should stop them all. The building inspector had reported the two cases because^ they had eome under his notice, said the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin. The inspector issu-ed the permits and naturally kept in toiieh with the work. He found matexial being used contrary to that stipulated. . He tnought the inspector had acted vciy properly in reporting the in~ stances which had come to his attention. Th-e" council hadi to abide by ihe law of the land. It could not attempt to gioss over it. • He Uxd not consider the council

was upholding the law when it ailowed -others to get away with it, said Cr. Allen. "My idea is that all should go for a skate, ' he added. The Mayor: I'm afraid Cr. Ali-en is out of order. We are dealing with only two cases. There is nothing in the motion about actions against others. _ • The building inspector, Mr. H T. Tilyard, said tnat in the case of the dwo persons reported he had gone to particular pains when lssuifig me peniiits co point out to ^them what ihey could not do. 'When I issue permits I expect that the in-

strucuOns wai oe carriea; uuu. wu - miow footpaths are going down without permits and so does the controller, but the cases don't 'always come to our notice." _ . •Cr W. Telfora voiced tne opmioii that the Building Controller seemad to be tnrowing all the onus for catching ohenders on to the counCiReplying, the Mayor said that under tne latest regulations the council was the authorised agent for the controller. What the councd s fuli powers were was what the oorpugh solicitors were being asked. There was no doubt that the proseeutions would be successful. It was on.y a question of who took the action. It was a serious matter and recently the N.Z.R.S.A. had gone so far as to ask for imprisonment for glarmg cases. Cr. D. O. Sweetzer: I believe all who oftend against the regulations should be punished, but why make flsh of one and fowl of another. I toiow of a oase in Levin where* 15 tons' of cement went into paths without a permit. The Mayor: If you know of it you should report it. Cr. Sweetzer: Everyone knOWs of it. The dogs bark this case. Mr. Burdekin: I haven't heard the dogs barking it, but it is all the more reason why proseeutions should be taken. Whv should we let aiese two offenders off because others are doing it? • Cr. C. Sherwood: We've got to make a start some where. We must pin it down. It's time some people Were du-e' for a shock. Cr. J. Miller: I agree. We should find out our, powers iandi act accordingly.

Cr. D. J. Gardiner: It seems that IhStead of a part-time inspector we should have a full- time ohe. Cr. Frederikson: It's not a case of my not upholding the law. I object strongly to picking on ohe- or two. Some of the most influential bersons in the town are breaking the regulations. All i want is those who make the law to uphold it. The vote to rescindi the resolution was lost by fiVe votes to four.