IRON AVAILABLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 88, 14 April 1945, Page 3

IRON AVAILABLE

BUT USE PROHIBITED

REGULATIONS ATTACKED

"Some of these regulations are ] bureaucracy running riot," said Mr. C. J. Lovegrove in the Magistrate's Court yesterday when, in appearing for two defendants prosecuted by the Housing Department for using iron spouting and downpipe in the construction of a residence, he attacked the Building Emergency Regulations, 1939, and amendments, under which the charges were brought. Counsel contended that a revision of the regulations was long overdue and said he understood that the Master Builders' Association was now making representations on the subject to the Government. The builder charged admitted using iron material, said Mr. Lovegrove. Some of this was secondhand, and some which was becoming blackened and had been stored under defendant's house since 1942 was also used. Though a substitute for galvanised iron could not be supplied for some months, builders who had stocks of galvanised spouting and downpiping for several years past were not permitted to make use of it. Accumulated stocks of these materials in the country amounted to many tons and it seemed strange that its use was now not permitted. "There must be some reason for conserving iron," said Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M. There were people who came to realise fines as license fees to use prohibited materials, he added. In reply to a question, Mr. Rosen, who prosecuted, said there was power for the authorities to order the x-emoval of prohibited material from a house, but as far as he knew the power was seldom exercised. " License Fee to Break Law " "If this is not done or the Department does not act under its powers, I take it that a fine is a license fee to break the law," said the magistrate. "It would stop this practice immediately if builders knew that the material would come out in the same manner as if they had not complied with the architect's specifications. Otherwise the Court is being asked to be a licensing authority." The magistrate suggested to an official of the Department that when alterations were made in specifications the builder and the owner should be notified and advice given that if the materials were used these would have to be removed. It was explained by the Department's representative that the builder or owner was notified of alterations. If material used was taken out of a building it was generally damaged beyond repair.

One builder, T. Snow (Mr.- Lovegrove) was fined £5, J. F. Snow beingconvicted arid discharged. The owner, L. M. Ferguson (Mr. Hough) was fined £3. On other prosecutions a builder, F. G. Fortzer, was fined £5, and the owner, E. M, Grlrnwood, was convicted and discharged. ,