Building By-law Defended

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31773, 2 September 1968, Page 22

Building By-law Defended

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 1.

Concern about the reported statements of Mr W. M. Willis, S.M., at Gisborne, that the building by-law had the effect of prohibiting everything, that the local body was left to decide when to prosecute, and that the by-law stepped outside reasonableness, was expressed today by the director of the Standards Association (Mr G. H. Edwards). In a prepared statement, Mr Edwards said: “The model

building by-law was a notable New Zealand development, whereby law was made in a democratic way by representative committees and public consultation. The former Standards Institute, at which Mr Willis specifically directed his criticism, developed the model building by-law by this process of wide representation, whereby all who are affected have had the opportunity to contribute. “If there is occasion for criticism, this can be made in constructive form by representations to the Standards Association, which has taken over the work of the Standards I institute. to have the model by-law amended. “Declaring the model building by-law unreasonable in a court ruling might well accentuate the present tendency to

central Government control, end further weaken the powers of local Government. “The public should know the strange fact that while a

by-law must be 'reasonable,' a regulation cannot be challenged on this ground. Unreasonable aspects in a model by-law can be changed by a democratic process of representation; unreasonable regulations present the citizen with little alternative.” The chief technical adviser of the Standards Association (Mr E. H. Hitchcock) said that the association was examining the form of the model by-law, and intended to simplify and clarify the text wherever possible. “The association looks for support in this work from central and local government, the building industry, the professions, and the public. In particular, in this matter of law, the association seeks support from the legal profession,” said Mr Edwards.