OCCUPATION OF A SHACK

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 9

OCCUPATION OF A SHACK

RELIEF WORKER REMOVED CHARGE AGAINST A. R. RLANK DISMISSED A charge e>f letting a (nio-roonied shack in Bottle Lake road when it did not comply with the requirements of Die Health Acl. was brought against Albert .Raymond Blank, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The building in dispute was stated to have insufficient. sanitary accommodation, but had been occupied by a relief worker and his wife until they were ordered by the health authorities to leave the premises. Alter hearim', fairly l<mg evidence. Ihe magistrate said he v.as satisfied that Blank had not. let the property to the man who occupied it, nor had he sold:if or Riven permission for occupation; the charge was therefore dismissed.

Mr J. D. Hutchison represented the Waimairi County Council, and Mr C. S. Thomas appeared for Blank. Mr Hutchison said that. Blank was the owner of a one-roomed shack at 12 Bottle Lake road, Burwood, situated on two acres of sandy soil, grass, and lupins. There was no drainage, no privy, and no water supply. There were two petrol drums lor water, with a capacity of 44 gallons each, but with nothing to feed them. There were pipes with them, but they were rusted and unusable. The water was carried from the school, about 100 yards away. The county council by-laws, while prohibiting this, did not soy what was sufficient; this was a matter for the Medical Officer of Health, who had been brought in to inspect the place. Payment of Rent Some time before November 15 defendant had let the property to a relief worker named Aldridge, and his wife, for 5s a week. According to evidence to be given, Aldridge asked whether the place was condemned, and Blank said it was not. Aldridge asked about the water supply and convenience, and defendant advised him to erect a convenience himself and make shift with the existing conditions for water. But the onus was on the owner of the property before he let if, to make provision for these. On November 15, the health inspector of the Waimairi County Council went to the place and found Mrs Aldridge there. He got her and her husband out by December 5. A letter was sent to Blank informing him that he had committed a breach of section 36 of the Health Act, and he replied that he had sold the property on November 1 to Aldridge. This was not so in accordance with the statement of Aldridge. In any case it was just as much an offence to sell as to let a property in such a state. George Edward Stokes, health inspector for the Waimairi County Council, said he had inspected the property and gave details of its condition. His evidence was in accordance with the statements made by Mr Hutchison. He said that the shack had been a tuberculosis shelter, measuring 10ft by eight. No Drainasc System To Mr Thomas, witness agreed that there were a great number of primitive places in that district, and that there was no drainage system there. Dr. T. F. Telford, Medical Officer of

Health, said lliat he had inspected the property in company with Inspector Stokes on November 30. There was not sufficient privy accommodation, waste waters were not properly disposed of, and the water supply was inadequate. Leonard Keith Aldridge, a relief worker, said that he had arranged to rent the shack from Blank at a rental of 5s a week. The people next door had told him that the place was condemned, but Blank said that it was passed by the Health Department. Blank asked him to erect a lavatory, and he had agreed to do this. Blank had asked if witness would like to buy 1 lie properly, and witness said lie did not know whether he would or not. lie did not enter into any agreement to buy. nor was the price mentioned. After the health inspector's visit, he had told Blank of the requirements, and defendant said lie would come and see about tliein. but he did not come, at least not while witness was in. To Mr Thomas, witness repeated that tie had not bought the property, and that he had not contemplated any additions oilier than a lavatory. Mima May Aldridge, wil'e of the Jas I, witness, also cave evidence. Defendant's videiice Defendant, in evidence, said that Aldridgo had wanted to rent, the properly and witness had asked that he should buy it, paying 10s a week. He told A kind;','. - to see the healt h inspector about the building, but lie did not give him authority to go on to the property. The first intimation he had received that Aldridge had gone m was when he received a letter from the Waimairi County Council staling that action against him was intended. Four times he had gone to the property, but he had not been able to iind Aldridge. It was only yesterday that he saw him. The magistrate said he could not doubt defendant's evidence, and was satisfied that he had not let the property, had not sold it, and had not permitted it to be occupied. The charge would therefore be dismissed.