"SHACKS" ON THE BEACHES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 222, 18 September 1919, Page 8

"SHACKS" ON THE BEACHES.

LOCAL (BODIES' POSITIOII At the meeting of the Devonport I'.orough Council held; last evening a report i ias submitted by the clerk ('Mr. J. WHWh.i 'wttl_ reference to the compla tots made s > to the unsightly and undignified builders now being erected in different parts of the borough. He stated that as the question of the power vested in a local authority er.apowering it to ma_e by-laws, more especially wiifii . regard to the building of small cottages. 1 had come prominently before the Council within the last few week*, he was led to submit for approval two opinions given m ! 1013 by Mt. T. F. Martin, solicitor, and in !_914. wit!_ reference to the matter. ' The first opinion wan that they could not I withhold building permits on -the ground ! that the proposed building was only a two- | roomed cottage, and that it was proposed Ito be erected "next villa resilience*, provided fhat the building complied -with the borough by-laws. The powers of t*e Council were I given for securing stability and safety from I fire, not for regulating the size aud character of buildings. The second opinion, In regard to unsightly buildings, stated that 'the Council 'had not power to amend the by-laws to prevent the erection of unsightly buildings as i-ong as the- proposed building conformed to the statute requirements and does not commit a nuisance. It finally stated that, in view of these opinions, any by-law made by the Council stipulating the minimum number of rooms in any buildings to be utilised for dwelling purposes would be iheld invalid.