STATE BUILDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 43, 21 February 1939, Page 10

STATE BUILDINGS

NO CITY PERMITS

PLANS NOT SUBMITTED

The City Council does not receive plans or specifications for State buildings erected in the city, nor does the Government take out permits, it was ascertained today, in answer to a correspondent's queries. Hoardings are also erected on Government land without permits and the Government pays no fees.

The correspondent ("Intrigued") wrote to "The Post" as follows:— "Could you please inform me what is the position in regard to permits for Government buildings in the city. Does the Government place specifications before the city authorities, or can it proceed without obtaining ' a permit, as the ordinary citizen cannot? . What is the position regarding the inspection of such buildings while tinder construction? Can you tell me if the Aitken Street building was objected to by the city authorities, at any period during or prior to its construction?" • The Government does not obtain permits from the City Council for buildings for the use of Government Departments such as the State Fire, Government Life, and Social Security buildings, it was ascertained, and no plans are submitted to the City Council for inspection. None was furnished for Broadcasting House now in course of erection. The City Council does not carry out any inspection of Government buildings; it assumes that any inspection made is by the Government's officeTS. The council has drawn the attention not only of this Government but of past Governments to this matter. The question was pressed by the council at the time of the additions to the ' Post Office and the Government Printing Office. COUNCIL'S OBJECTIONS. The procedure of the Government, in erecting buildings in the city contrary to the building bylaws dates back, it is stated, to the famous building known as the "tomato house," ' which was erected alongside Govern--1 ment Buildings during the early stages •of the war. It was erected as a ■ temporary building and has remained : "temporary" ever since. The City 1 Council has objected to the procedure of the Government in this matter for a long time, and the case of the Social Security building presented no change in its attitude or the actions taken. It is also pointed out that hoardings are erected on Government land with-' • out permits, and the Government pays no fees for the hoardings. Hoardings which are erected by the Government ■ would not receive permits if the applications were made by private ' concerns.