FINE CONSIDERED INADEQUATE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25136, 18 March 1947, Page 8

FINE CONSIDERED INADEQUATE

UNAUTHORISED WORK ON THEATRE R.S.A. PROTEST; PLASTER NEEDED FOR HOUSES Fines imposed in the Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday for the carrying out of additions and alterations to the Majestic Theatre without a permit were criticised by members of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association last evening. The executive decided to ask the Dominion headquarters of the association to protest strongly against what was considered an inadequate penalty for the offence and to seek an amendment of the law to provide for heavier penalties.

fH. rrancis Willis, an architect, and J. and W. Jamieson, Ltd., the defendants in the case, were fined £lO and £5 respectively. The Building Controller said that £lOOO worth of plastering materials —which the defence suggested was an overestimate—had been used. The Magistrate (Mr F. F. Reid. 5.M..) said he was satisfied that there had been no deliberate or arranged attempt to avoid the restrictions, but the amount of essential materials involved could not be regarded as unsubstantial.] Plaster, which was in short supply for houses, had been used on an unnecessary luxury job in the Majestic Theatre, said Mr H. E. Batchelor, moving that the association protest against the lightness of the penalty. “Some of these regulations were passed at our request,” said Mr Batchelor. “If this goes on we are wasting our time trying to get any regulations or priorities for housing.” They were told that plaster and gypsum were almost unobtainable, said Mr S. Duncan. Eight months ago there had been 52 houses, under rehabilitation alone, held up in the Christchurch area for lack of plaster. “The protest is timely and necessary.” said the president (Mr D. W. Russell) “I think that Dominion headquarters should take the matter up in order that maximum fines, and heavier fines, should be imposed in such cases.” The fine imposed last week appeared inadequate. He suggested that the Magistrates’ powers should be widened.