INSANITARY BUILDINGS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3759, 9 March 1907, Page 2

INSANITARY BUILDINGS.

A correspondent, signing himself “Public Health,” _ writes a lengthy article to the editor in reference to a number of insanitary houses in the borough, and mentions the owners’ names. He complains “ that in no other borough in the colony would such a disgraceful state of affairs be permitted to exist,” and roundly abuses the Council for its “ apathy.” He says “itis a disgrace to our civilisation that such miserly landlords are to be found who would extort rent from hovels, some of which are not fit to house animals, let alone human beings.” We can inform our correspondent that' we understand the Borough Council intends to deal with this matter at-an early date, and that there is a probability of a health officer making a visit of inspection and presenting a report. The Council is empowered to carry out the provisions of the Public Health Act. For the information of our correspondent and others interested we quote the sections of the Act dealing with pulling down unhealthy or ruinous buildings ; Upon the certificate of the District Health Officer or of two duly qualified medical practitioners, or the declaration of any three burgesses and the certificate of one qualified medical practitioner, that any building or place in a borough is in a condition unfit for occupation or dangerous to public health, .the council of such borough may give notice to the owner thereof to pull down the same within a time named in such notice ; and all proceedings shall be had in such case as mentioned in the next succeeding section, and the Council may recover from the owner, or deduct from the proceeds mentioned in subsection seven of the twelfth schedule hereto, all expenses incurred under this present section.

If any building in a borough is in a ruinous condition, so as to he 'dangerous to persons in the adjoining buildings, or to passers-by, the Council may exercise the powers contained in the twelfth schedule hereto. The word “ building ” in this section and in the said Schedule includes any part of a building, or anything affixed thereto. We quote portions of the twelfth

schedule dealing with insanitary or dangerous buildings:

If all danger is not removed by scouring or taking down such building within such time, or by commencing so to do within such time, and proceeding therein with all reasonable expedition, any two Justices may, upon the application ot the Council and after notice to the owner, order such building to be secured or taken down as they think fit, within a time named in such notice. If such order is not obeyed, the Council may cause such building to be secured or taken down in compliance therewith. Such notice or order may, in the absence of the owner, be served upon the occupier, if any, of such building, or if the building is unoccupied, by fixing the same on the building. If the building is taken down by the Council, the Council may sell or destroy the materials or any part thereof, and apply the proceeds in payment of the expenses incurred under this section, and shall pay the residue, if any, to the owner on demand.