Housing by-laws

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 12

Housing by-laws

Sir, — Mr Hay says ratepayers are in for a nasty shock. Do they know they pay by-laws inspectors to inspect flats, often in pairs, making files that keep a recently enlarged empire occupied with paper work, while Rockinghorse Road re- ' mains a health hazard for pack of money. Landlords, I tenants, mortgagees, and I owners are all advised 'where there is a missing window-catch; where walls are 2in out; where a room built earlier with City Counjcil approval is too large for i the window. The expense of i this nonsensical activity so (worried Mr Pickering that he substantially increased apartment licence fees, but the bulk of the bill (conservatively five figures) falls on ratepayers. The cost of this “kitchen-cupboard” inspectorate now brings the highest licence fees in New Zealand. For flats they are: Auckland, $6; Hamilton, $2; Nelson, $2; Timaru, $10; Dunedin, $10; Christchurch, $25. Mr Hay said he would (take a more liberal view of I the by-laws. When will he do this? — Yours, etc., ECONOM ' IN CITY FINANCE.

February 9, 1975. [The Town Clerk (Mr J. H. Gray) replies: “Inspection is normally by one officer, ex-

cept where a new appointee is under initial training. Although not stated, it is presumed the correspondent refers to a formal improvement notice, which is required by law to be served on an owner, tenant and other persons having a financial interest in the property. Standards of fitness are laid down in statutory regulations, not by the City Council. Fees in many authorities are now under review, but those locally are based on there being no charge on the general rate for licensing of apartment buildings and boardinghouses required under the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act—in other words, on this activity being financially self-supporting.”] Car “converted”

Sir, —Having read Professor Crawford’s letter in “The Press” this morning, I wondered if in the search for a petroleum substitute, that learned gentleman had succeeded in transforming alcohol into a form of energy before the time of writing.— Yours, etc., A. McLAUGHLIN.

February 19, 1975.