BOROUGH BY-LAWS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 35, 5 November 1920, Page 7

BOROUGH BY-LAWS

SHOULD GOVERNMENT COMPLY WITH THEM? By TtUsraph— Special Oorreipondeni Masterton, November 2. Whether tho Government housing operations should comply with the borough by-laws was a riucstion raised at tonight's Borough Council meeting, when a letter from the deputy housing superintendent came up lor consideration. The letter was a reply to a protest by. the sanitary inspector against the installation in the local workers' dwellings of a certain type of cistern. The letter stated that as the cisterns were already in use in Wellington, where no objection had been raised, the Government intended to proceed with their installation at Masterton.

Mr. ICingdon, the borough, sanitary inspector, said that from the very commencement of the workers' homes, in Masterton, the Government had ignored the council. To start with, no building permits were applied for, and—though the borough engineer had inquired for them—no plans or specifications were deposited with tho council. The next breach of the by-laws was the employment of an unregistered plumber. "I pointed out that this, too, was contrary to the by-laws," said the inspector, "but was met with the reply that the Government was exempt. It was not until I threatened to cut off the water supply that a qualified plumber was employed." The present trouble, continued Mr. Jvingdon, was over a cistern made of a mixture of concrete and paper pulp, and which was fitted inside with a rubier valve—a continual source of trouble. Ho contended (hat the Government was as much subject' to the by-laws as private builders.

Councillor M'l.eod moved that the council support the action of the sanitary inspector.

Councillor Walson, in seconding the motion, asked if the cisterns complied with the Wellington City Council bylaws.

Mr. Kingdon: The city by-laws prohibit their use.

Councillor Bnrridge asked whether tho drainage had been connected with the houses.

Mr. Kingdon: No permit has been issued yet.

The Mayor (Mr. W. H. .Tackson) snid he quite agreed that tho council should support its sanitary inspector.. The Government was setting a very bad example by flouting by-laws on every possible occasion. The council hod an outstanding example when the authorities decided to "dump down 36 houses on a Hock of land within the borough without any reference to the (own-planning propaganda which tho Government itself had "disseminated at great expense." The motion was carried, and it was decided to infrirm the housing superintendent that the drainage would not be connected with the workers' dwellings unless the by-laws were conmlied with."