SCOPE OF COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 10

SCOPE OF COMMISSION.

MANY MISAPPREHENSIONS. LIMITATION TO POWERS. EXPLANATION BY MR. BARTON. [BY TELEGRATII. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] NAPIER, Monday. Misapprehensions regarding tho powers and functions of the Napier Commission were tho subject of comment by the chairman, Mr. J. S. Barton, who said some people appeared to have an extraordinary idea in this connection and that it was time somo correct impression was given. The commission, said Mr. Barton, exercised tho functions of tho 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 parts of buildings because they were a menace to adjoining owners' property. If the building was a menace to passers-by in the streets or to users in the ordinary course of events, thero was certain power which had always existed under the Municipal Corporations Act.

It was obvious that it was a wr.ste of time to approach tho commissioners with requests that they should remove individual hardships from leaky taps to bricks on back lawns. The council's officers were still functioning, though, of course, they were exceptionally busy on tasks directed on broad general construction and tho restoration of services. Tho commissioners had no power to interfere between landlord and tonant and to settle disputes in tho 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 interests and take ordinary steps.

"The commissioners 011 one occasion, for instance," said Mr. Barton, felt that they had approached the limit when they interested themselves in procuring the loan of a lent for a returned family whose members felt nervous about sleeping in the house. They felt that the limit had been reached when, next day, they were asked to go and put the tent up or to have arrangements made for it to be put up."