FIRE HAZARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 8

FIRE HAZARD

BUILDING IN WOOD TIMBER COMPANY CHARGED “ The recent fire tragedy in Christchurch has impressed on all local bodies the necessity for the strict enforcement of the building regulations, especially in towns, said Mr J.* C. Robertson In the City Police Court yesterday when the Southland and Otago Co-optfrative Timber Company, Ltd., was charged with building a wooden shavings hopper in the inner city area when the by-lawsonly allowed the use of fire-resisting materials such as stone, brick or concrete. The builder who undertook the work, Frederick George Duncan, was also charged with doing building work without a permit from the City Corporation. Both defendants were represented by Mr D “ Considerable trouble has been caused to the corporation in the past by defend ants who were prepared t 0 P? y nne for breaking the by-law, but the co poration is empowered tp order the building to be taken down and rebuilt with one of the specified matenais. arid is considering such action in this case, Mr Robertson continued. , was situated on the company s Property on the foreshore, about 50 feet from tne nearest building, which also belonged to the company, and was used to store shav incs until they could be removed for destruction. When the building was seen by an inspector it was already completed but no permit had been obtained from the corporation. The by-law would strictly enforced in the future, ivir Robertson concluded. ■ . Claiming that as the mill was built of wood, the shaving hopper was designed to remove shavings from the P la ”m g tory and minimise the fire risk, Mr Solomon said that the erection of the hopper was justified. In 1944 the corporation granted an application by the company to erect a wooden extension much closer to other buildings than the hopper and, although on this occasion a permit naa not been obtained from the corporation, one was granted by the building controller. , . “Local bodies must have the power to control building in the areas under their jurisdiction,” said Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. " In this case there is a definite breach of the by-laws, and the corporation is empowered to order the building to be ■ rebuilt.” The magistrate fined the Southland and Otago Co-operative Timber Company, Ltd., £7 10s, and Duncan £2 10s. Both defenddants were ordered to pay costs (10s) and solicitor’ll fee (£1 Is).