A BAD EXAMPLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2154, 9 August 1907, Page 2

A BAD EXAMPLE.

THE GOVERNMENT A LAW BREAKER. MINISTER MAKES WEAK EXPLANATION.

(Special to Times). WELLINGTON, August 8. The Government appears to be breaking, not only city by-laws but also the law of the country, in connection with the additions to the Parliamentary buildings being erected in Sydney Street. The corporation wrote to the Public Works Department and pointed out:—(1) That the new building contained oriel windows which by projecting 4ft over the treet line was an infraction of the by-laws; (2) That the building was icing erected inside the 33ft' line -tipulated by statute. It was pointed nit that Sydney-street was a busy thoroughfare through which the tramways might eventually pass and herefore the Government should Have set the citizens a good example by observing its own laws with regard to building outside the limit of 33ft from the centre of the dway.

Replying to the point regarding the projections of the oriel windows the department stated that there were many cases as bad if not worse in regard to city buildings and this infraction was not considered to be ■erious. On the second poiat the Under-Secretary wrote, “I am directed by the Minister for Public Works to state that to vomply with your request would practically render it impossible to proceed with the new building at all, and as a contractias already been let for the erection if the structure, etc., the work is ,iow in progress, the Minister regrets that he is unable to see his way to accede to your request.”