“NOTH or WASHING.”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XI, Issue 243, 18 October 1921, Page 6

“NOTH or WASHING.”

OVERRIDING THE LAW. ■ ‘ 1 There is one note of what can only be termed warning which must be struck here, and that is against tho rapidly-growing practice of validating violations of statue lay per medium or the ‘ Washing-up Bill’ mainly, but as a matter of fact per medium of divers enactments. This practice constitutes 1 one of the most baffling and disheartenI nig impediments with which, the Audit , Omco nas to contend in its endeavour ' to secure observance of statutory obligations, ” states the Controller and Audi-tor-General in his annual report to Parliament. “ It is submitted in all deference that soiling, and in the main wise, principles of law cannot bo modified or overridden year after year to meet local demands without undermining that respect for them which is essential to the maintenance of a proper standard of conduct of local body administration or of any type of statutory admihistiatibn. Where undue hardship or (unanticipated injury results from the application of a general law relief is warranted, but not for the deliberately wilful contraventions thereof which certain astute local bodies now indulge in, relying upon escaping from consequences thereof the process above referred to—which appears to no all the more easily operated if the matter at issue Is of considerable magnitude. This not only violates tho material and moral purpose of the governing statute, but is inequitably in its application, as offenders of minor degree re< ognising that their matter is not o* sufficient importance to justify requests' tor legislation in relief, meet the consequences of their misdeeds, as was intended should be done in ail cases Unquestionably two years’ rigid- 5 enforcemmit of the law would have highly beneficial disciplinary effects, and reduce deputations and demands for condoning legislation to a minimum. Te pursue the present course multiplies the evil annually.”