BY-LAWS REVISION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 243, 11 October 1916, Page 4

BY-LAWS REVISION.

•fTAitxir AWD ABSUBD m TmfBETATIOWB. OX7TEK AND TSSTER TEAFFIC ZO3JETHE EnSPECTOBATE QUESTIOX. MAYOR'S APPEAL TO CITIZENS. In the course of dSeussing the city's •by-laws this morning the Mayor made some comment* on the harsh interpretation placed on come of the trafficregulating la*ws, and explained the direction in which the City OotrneU is moving to modify some of the existing rules, consistent with public health and in- | terests. "The' Council is' of opinion that the enforcement of some of its by-laws is mmeoGssarHv harsh." remarked Gunson. ' : There is, for instance, the by-IaTV requiring all traffic to keep as near as possible to the lelX-hand side of the street. Prosecutions have been instituted against drivers for driving on the tramrails on the left-hand side when there is no other traffic. Obviously this is quite absurd, and in the revision of the by-laws cow in hand the Streets Committee has amended the bylaw relating to the rule of the road in order to prevent the repetition of such prosecutions. In other "ways the bylaws are being.made clearer without in any way endangering public jnterestsASOBUKBAX ZOXE. I The Counei] has al&o decided to adopt two zones for these by-laws, and in the outer zone many.of the by-laws needed in the city will" not be applied- With the extension of the municipal boundaries by the bringing in of large residential areas -which ■were formerly the suburbs this ie necessary- . The By-laws Co-inmittee now sitting is proceeding on" the principle that the bylaws should be framed for the convenience of the public and the good government of the city, and upon the ground of* public health —not with the view of] unduly .haTrassing or restricting anyj section of the community or any class of interests. With this tolerant policy as the basis, it is thought there will be no ground for future complaint? VAUJE OF rXSPECTIO:?. "It has often been said t?iat the dtyj is inspector-ridden," remarked the Mayor. "M?is admitted there is a large number of inspectors, and. iheee will "be consolidated. But it is absolutely essen-j tial in a rapidly developing and modem j city to, protect the comnmnity, partica-i j larly on the ground of public health, and * experience has proved that by the pre-j sent policy of inspecting new worke, sucH; as drainage works, and requiring certain j sanitary conditions in. connection with; yards, etc_ the health of the communitvj has been enormously improved. And,' again, the inspection, oj buildings and; j the requirements of the Co-.ureil in this' way have very great.y improved tJe class of structures in /tie city. Further. the inspection of places of aaac-emrnt.' requiring due prerautiors agaicit Sre and adequate provision in the matter.of exits-has been instituted in the public interest. Having regard to all these things, the increasing tendency to ridicule the inspectorships is not-eo-snd ncr well founded- it will be seen on examination. that the experience "*&€ all; large modern cities, to which, clafis .Auek; land will some day attain, is such that this system is inseparable, from sound, iealthy-pro(gressive.towns. v i "At the eaifte"-time. the inspectorshirs will not "be allowed to develop into am - thing approaching persecution ~6r exai*-' tion of xtndue requirements. Therefore; the Council looks to the public for rea-i sona'bi** support and facilities to its in-' spectors, "W-ho are only carrying out their: duty, in the exercise of which they areacting in the interests cf the coaununity. • ''Before'the by-laws are finally adopted! and changee are made ia the consolida-j tion. of the inspectoral work the com- j mittee -will pay due regard ■coreisient j with the foregoingfpolicy, to reasonable and easy public facilities and the city's progress."