NAPIER COMMISSION

Northern Advocate, 8 April 1931, Page 8

NAPIER COMMISSION

POWERS UMITED. STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN. (Special'to “Northern Advocate.”) NAPIER, This Day. In order to remove any doubt as to the powers of the Napier Commission the chairman, Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., lias issued the following statement; The commission, said Mr Barton, exorcised the functions of, the Napier Borough Council, the present state of the borough requiring it to give immediate attention to drainage , and water supply problems. In the matter of ruined buildings, it had no more power than the council had on the day of the earthquake. In particular, it had no power to enter upon private property and peremptorily pull down or remove part of buildings because they were a menace to adjoining owners ’ property. If a building was a menace to passers-by in the streets or to users in the ordinary course of events, there was certain power which had always existed under the Municipal Corporations Act. It was obvious that it was a waste of time to approach the commissioners with requests that they should remove individual hardships from leaky taps to bricks and back lawns. f , The council’s officers were still functioning, though of course they were exceptionally busy on paths directed on broad general construction, and restoration of services. The commissioners had no power to interfere between landlord and tenant and to settle disputes in the matter of rent or possession of premises or to interfere between debtor and creditor. A great deal of time was wasted every day in repeating over and over again explanations of this kind. In general terms, all law for the adjustment of rights between private parties was still existing and' persons aggrieved should do a little thinking in their own interest and take ordinary steps. “The commissioners on one occasion, for instance,” said Mr Barton, “felt that they had approached the limit when they interested themselves in procuring the loan of a tent for a returned family whose members were nervous about sleeping in the house. They felt that the limit had been reached when, next day, they were asked to go and put up the tent, or to have arrangements made for it to' be put up. ’ ’