"A LAW UNTO ITSELF."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1176, 11 July 1911, Page 6

"A LAW UNTO ITSELF."

GOVERNMENT IGNOItES CITY BY-LAWS. (By TcJcEraph — Special Correspondent) Christchurch, July 10. ' At to-night's meeting of the City Council, a letter was read from a country schoolmaster, who said he •■noticed that the headmaster's house at. tho Sydenham School had been demolished preparatory to putting in the foundation for the nsw Sydenham Test Office. Ho understood that tbo Government intended building right up to the present street boundary, despite the Mayor's protest, and he hoped in the interests of present-day citizens and posterity that, his Worship would make a prompt and energetic crusade against the proposal. The City Council had a bv-law that no building should be erected within 33ft. of tho centre of tho street, and time and again they had been weak-kneed enough to waive this by-law. j What was the uso of getting homes for incurables, consumptive homes, etc., when as a community they had to enduro tho infliction and affliction of- narrowstreets which were the curse of tho 01d ( - World cities? The Mayor said that the Government was not subject to the restrictions placed on individuals by tho by-laws of local bodies. A clause bad been introduced into last session's Municipal Corporation Bill, proposing to provide that plans of Government buildings should be subject to local by-laws, but the Bill had been hung up till tho clause was defeated, the House having to give way to tho Government's desires because the extension of the franchise and other needed reforms .were included in the Bill: Councillor Hunter moved:—"That .the council strongly protest against, the action of the - Government in connection with the erection of the Sydenham Post Office in ignoring the by-law which makes provision for buildings being kept 33ft. from tho centre of tho road." Councillor Hurgoyno seconded the motion, and said a meeting should be called to protest against tho Government's uction. Councillor Dougall said that ho would support a proposal to hold a public meeting. '• Christchurch, like other places, suffered under many disadvantages owing Jn the. unconstitutional attitude of the Government towards municipalities, and local authorities generally. The Government engaged not only in ordinary government work, but in business concerns, and in every instance it made a law unto itself, and was not subject, to laws applicable to the other sections of the community. Other councillors having spoken in favour of tho the protest being made, the motion was agreed to.