HOUSING BY-LAW

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25217, 1 June 1945, Page 6

HOUSING BY-LAW

CONTENTIOUS CLAUSES '• explanation by the mayor Provisions of the propped City Cou n . cil residential by-law wlueb have been the subject of recent, criticism were discussed yesterday in a statement issued by the Mayor, Mr J. A. C. Alium. Several drafts of the by-law hare been considered over a period of months, and it will be placed before a meeting of the council for confirmation next Thursday. However, it is understood thatfurther important amendments will be proposed at that meeting. 'Mr Allum said the by-law was designed to give effect to the council's powers under the Auckland City Housing Act, 1942, to improve existing decadent or sub-standard housing, and to prevent such conditions urising in the future. "Nothing Revolutionary" "There is nothing revolutionary in the by-law," he continued, 'although if does- require that houses shall be to a minimum standard and equipped with baths and other essential amenities which at present a house owner may or may not furnish at his pleasure. ' S I understand that exception has been taken to the proposed right of entry into private houses, but; I must point out that the Health Act of 1920 authorises sanitary inspectors to enter j private premises without prior notice. ! I have never heard of any cas« of this power being abused, and of course no | local authority would permit it to be abused." Certificates of Occupation The proposal to require certificates of occupation for residences applied only to new houses, unless an owner, of an existing dwelling was desirous of obtaining the certificate. The provision in the new by-law was based on a similar by-law prepared by the New Zealand Standards Institute. Provision : had been made for a temporary certificate of occupation pending rhe completion of the residence. It seemed to the Mayor that that provision in the bv-law was by no means vital, but it was desirable in the interests of the ; owners and occupiers of house pro- ■ perty. "Fears have been expressed that the authority to require owners of existing buildings to carry out certain works will 1 operate harshly," Mr Allum sa d. "The intention of the council, however, is only to require that existing decadent or sub-standard houses shall be brought up to a reasonable standard. This authority is essential to earn- out the council's policy, and I believe no one i who is acquainted with the existing | conditions will disapprove." The Right of Appeal j Although the council received its I authority by legislation passed three j years ago, it had obviously not been ! possible to take action until the present, ; and even now it was realised that- not j much effective work could be done until j more labour and materials were availi able. The council would be lacking in its ! duty if it waited until laboar and j materials were available before proj viding the necessary machiner; to give : effect t<> its policy. The proposed by- : law contained the necessary machinery. "I should like to emphasise that the by-law is designed to give effect to the council's policy as contained in the Auckland Housing Act, and it doe* not give the council any powers r.ot authorised bv the Act itself." Mr Alium added. The by-law contained provision for appeal to the council by any person who was dissatisfied with any notion of the city officials. THE PETROL RATION MAY AND JUNE COUPONS | An announcement was made by the Oil Fuel Controller yesterday that tijje May petrol coupon, No. 11, would, together with coupon No. 12, which was made available from Y-E Day. be avail- | able for June. Coupon No. 11. will be i redeemable at half the face value of the coupon, and No. 12 at one and a-half times its face value. This allowance was made so as to give private motorists the equivalent Of the total cf two full I coupons for the months of May and June. LOCAL ANt) GENERAL Land Sales Committee Sittings of the North Auckland Land • Sales Committee have been ;onductes this week by a quorum of two members, owing to the former chairman of the committee, Mr S. I. Good all, hav- ' ing assumed his new duties as & magistrate last Monday. The name of Mr ; Goodall's successor has not yet been ' announced. Demand for Oysters There was a big demand for rock . oysters at the Government oyster depoi when the season was opened yesterday. Pickers have been engaged for soml time, and a supply about equal to that of last vear was expected to be available. The oysters are being brought from the Hauraki Gulf, Bay of -Islands. Great Barrier and Kaipara. The season will last about three months. Railway Repair Work An indication of the large volume of repair work handled at tbe Otahulm railway workshops was given by tin . assistant-manager, Mr G. W. 31. Paries, ; at yesterday's sitting of the Auckland Industrial Manpower Committee. He | said all the carriages, vans and wag- : gons in the North Island came to Ota- , nuhu to be repaired. An average of , 520 cars and vans and 3000 waggons [ were attended to in a period of 1? months. . Inspection of Parks i A further inspection of city parks ■ and reserves with the purpose of planning future alterations and improvements will he carried out by the City Council Parks Committee next . Tnesi day., On this occasion the committer will visit Grey Lynn, Westmere and other western suburbs, and during it' tour will hear representations fron members of local organisations. Similar inspection tours have already bee? carried out in the Avondale and easter: waterfront districts. "Ask the Emperor of Japan" . ben a reservist who was granted # sine die adjournment of his appeal fiv the No. _4 Armed Forces Appeal Board in asked whether he would be justified in proceeding with a plan of farm cropping he had in view, thf chairman, Mr P. P. Smith, said that that was a question which should br addressed to the Emperor of Japan. Thi reservist replied, "I am afraid I am not on speaking terms with him." Mr V . W . Simms, a member of the board advised the reservist to go ahead with : his cropping. Repatriation Arrangements Praise for the arrangements for the repatriation of New Zealand prisoners of war in England is contained in a letter from Private H. B. Sainty. of Mount Albert, to a friend in Auckland. He said that he was at Margate and that the arrangements were wonderful. I rivate Sainty was taken prisoner in Greece. He spent 22 days in hiding near the Hungarian border just before V-t Day in an attempt to join the Russians, but finally linked up with Americans nt Sakburg, in Austria, said that be celebrated Y-E night by drinking some of "Hitler's cognac." Division's Speed • Some idea of how enemv units were by-passed by the New Zealand siou m its speedv advance daring tie final stages of tbe campaign in Italy is given by a New Zealand artilleryman, in a letter received in Auckland recently. The soldier said that his regiment reached the town of Padua at three o'clock one morning. Shortly afterward, reports came through that a. German force, with tank support, was advancing on the town from -the same direction in which the regiment lf id come. Guns went quickly | '""tion ; the attack was dispersed, and „ le division continued its advance 0® I Venice. - ■ - .