MANWATU EVENING STANDARD Circulation, 3,200 Copies Daily. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1906. ABOVE THE LAW.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8140, 2 June 1906, Page 4

MANWATU EVENING STANDARD Circulation, 3,200 Copies Daily. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1906. ABOVE THE LAW.

Tin: fact ihat the Government is above the law and can do with impunity those things for the commission of which the ordinary citizen would he haled before a magistrate has been rudely brought to the notice of the Petone Borough Council. As is well-known the Government have made a start m Petone to erect homes (or workmen under the Act of la si session. The Petone Borough Council object to the plana of the proposed cottages, on several grounds. They point out that the plans do not conform to the Borough by-laws, and that if the houses arc erected on the plans accepted they will constitute a menace to public health. Their objection evoked from the Government architect the following frankly defiant letter I have to say that I cannot see my way to comply with the borough by-laws, I do not consider the position of the earth closets in any case prejudicial to health. The Government i* not necessarily constrained to act in accordance with any borough by-laws, and could not or at least does not consider it desirable to adopt a 10£t stud as the minimum. I am sure that the houses when erected will be tound to be as sanitary, convenient and ornamental as any of similar sue in the borough," Apparently this ends the matter, unless concerted action and vigorously-slated public opinion compels an alteration of the Government s expressed intention, It certainly seems a dangerous anomaly though that the State should not be amenable to the laws it prescribes for | the good government of the people.