Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 85, 7 October 1893, Page 2

Correspondence

« THE PROPOSED NEW BYE LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir,— On perusing " Ratepayer's " letter (by-the-bye I wish people writing on matters of public interest would haye the courage to sign tbeir names) in this evening's Star, his statement respecting tbe Bye-law relating to buildings appeared to me so utterly incredible that I, for the first time, glanced at the proposed Byelaws as printed in the supplement to your issue of the 29th nit., and found to my utter astonishment that your correspondent's interpretation of them was absolutely and literally correct. Now, for instance, suppose a rotten board in my drawingroom fell in and injured myself or a ( member of my family, before I could have it repaired I should have to employ a surveyor or architect (who might charge me a guinea for his services) to prepare accurate plans and specifications of the requisite repairs, with tbe dimensions and other particulars of tbe materials to be used in such repairs. These plans, with other particulars, have then to be deposited at the office of tbe Inspector, who has seven days to consider whether he approves of them or not, and until he sends a certificate of approval tho work cannot be commenced, or |I should be subject to a penalty not exceeding £'5. Of all the absurd and ridiculous restrictions imposed upon the people by some of the laws of the colony this Bye- law is to my mind most absurd, not even excepting the law (I think under the Police Offences Act) which subjects the owner of a little puppy dog to a fine if it, in its frolicsomeness, happens to " startle" a nervous lady. 1 almost wonder that in the Bye law I am speaking of there is no penalty attached to the builder or carpenter who is to effect the requisite repairs, if lie does the work before he is satisfied that the ** Inspector " has approved of the plans. It is, however, perhaps not too late to remedy this omission. Some energetic steps ought, in my opinion, to he taken to impress upon the Council the advisability of a thorough revision of these laws before they are confirmed. I am, &c, Saml. GoodueiwßE. Feilding, Sth October, 1893.