BUILDING BY-LAWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 5

BUILDING BY-LAWS

ALLEGATIONS OF LAXITY.

COUNCIL ASKS FOR DETAILS

Following the discussion at the recent. meeting of the Greymouth Fire Board, at which allegations were made that the Borough Council did not administer its building by-laws ■impartially and that eertain buildings in the brick area did not comply with requirements, the Borough Council, at its meeting, last evening, decided to 'ask the Soard to supply a list of the buildings about which complaint had been made. . _ Mr. E. J. Rundle, secretary of the -Fire Board, wrote to the Town Clerk as. follows: “Your letter with reference to your Council’s refusal to grant a permit for s the construction of two bedrooms in wood and iron at the rear of the Central Fire Station was considered at last evening’s meeting of my Board. It was decided to accept your Council’s decision'. I wish to state, however, that my Board views with concern the Council’s decision, in some previous instances, of allowing buildings in the brick area to be constructed of wood and iron.

thereby increasing the fire hazard in the business area of the town, and .requests, that,-in future, the by-laws be rigidly enforced.” Cr. J. B. Kent* moved that the let-

ter be received and that the Fire Board be furnished with a plan showing the brick area of the town, so that the fire inspector would know exactly what the. area was; also that the Board be furnished with a plan showing the reticulation of Cobden. Cr. R. J. Williams seconded the motion.

The Mayor said that a plan showing the reticulation on both sides of the river had been sent to the Fire Board several months ago. Cr. Kent: I shall enquire about it. The Mayor said he did not see that a plan of the brick area was necessary. A description of its boundaries should do. A lithographed plan would cost 7/6. Cr. Kent: The Board will be willing to pay that for a plan. The motion was carried. /‘OVER THE FENCE.” The Council was then about to pass to the next business, . when Cr. J. Saunders said he thought the Council should express jts approval of the statement published by the Mayor in reference to the allegation made at the meeting of. the Fire Board. It was definitely over the. fence when a responsible officer gave it out to the world that the Council was showing favouritism and treating people differently. He took exception to the remarks made by the Fire Superintendent about a building in Tainui Street. The Council had conferred with him about the requirements in that building, and it was a distinct breach of faith to' say that he was disregarded, If the superintendent had only looked at the place he would not have made the remarks he did. There were six windows in the top storey. Cr. G. R. Harker said he thought that, in order that the Council could meet the charges made, the Fire Board should be asked to furnish a list of the buildings about which the allegations had been made. The Mayor: The newspaper reports said that we were to be supplied with particulars, but. there are none given in this letter.

Cr. Harker moved that the Board should be asked to supply particulars of the buildings about which complaints had been made. Cr. Saunders seconded the motion, which was carried.

Cr. J. Anderson said that one of the allegations had reference to a certain building, and it was common talk round the town that there was no fire proof wall between the building concerned and a hotel.

Cr. F. F. Boustridge: There was never any provision for one. Cr. Anderson said there was talk of another case where a person had taken out a bond to fulfil certain work and had not done so.

The Mayor; That matter was discussed fully by the last Council. Cr. Anderson: There is a lot of talk round the town.

Cr.' Williams: I don’t think we should concern ourselves with talk round the town.