GOVERNMENT BLAMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23089, 14 July 1938, Page 14

GOVERNMENT BLAMED

ALTERATIONS TO 3ZB SERIOUSNESS OF CITY FIRE COUNCIL BY-LAWS FLOUTED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] CHRISTCHURCH, "Wednesday A oharge that the Government's alterations, not subject to the city by-laws, to the structure of radio station 3ZB were responsible for the seriousness of tho fire on tho morning of May 23, when the State Theatre and Macduffs' buildings wero severely damaged, was made by Mr. E. H. Andrews at a meeting of the Christchurch Fire Board. "I say emphatically that, in my opinion, the main blame for the fire is on the Government, itself," said Mr. Andrews. " The Government is a laW ( unto itself. It does not apply to the City Council for a permit when it is altering buildings, nor does it notify the council when it ib making alterations. " I understand the Government put in an extra stairway right up the 3ZB building and that the stairway acted as a draught furnace. An application for the stairway would never have been allowed if it had been made by private citizens to tho City Council. " One of the great troubles in the city to-day is that the Government is not amenable to the by-laws in any wav and is a law unto itself, Mr. Andrews added. " I think that that is the cause of the fire to a very considerable extent. That fact has not been brought out as it should have been. It is time the Government acted in conjunction with the city b} r -laws and in the interests of safety."