CHINESE BUILDINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20836, 15 July 1942, Page 4

CHINESE BUILDINGS

BY-LAW COMPLIANCE CbOK COUNTY CONCERN “It is almost impossible to 'enforce the county building by-IdwS in the easg cf the Chinese who occupy ISrtd temporarily ftif ntafket gardening,” reported the acting county engineer, Mr. J. Gunn, at to-day’s meetihg of the, Cook County Council. After hearing the report the cbUHeil decided td investigate the matter pending further actidri. "The tenure of these properties IS usually short and the leasee aims at spending as little money dri building as possible,” Mf. Gtifin stated.. “In some cases where a permit hits Been issued, the building has later been added to with all kinds df fnateriai. As many of these buildings' arcerected near the main highways, appearance ns well as heSlth is a consideration. The county by-idW! make no provision for painting, Which I consider as important as the class of timber required. “I think that if the land-OWher Wiis made responsible for the permit and for the type of building erected bn his property, the position would be easier to control. As building material is hard to procure at present, you may waive the by-law during the war period and allow a cheaper type of building to be erected provided it complied With the health requirements. If I am to enforce the county by-law it may mean condemning a number of buildings already erected.” “The Chinese buildings are not a credit to any county,” said the chairman, Mr. W. G. Sherratt. Messrs. Sherratt, J. T. Gordon and C. Tietjen were asked, to go into the matter and report.