CURB ON STATE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19883, 9 March 1939, Page 16

CURB ON STATE

MUNICIPALITIES' MOVE OVER-RIDING BY-LAWS BUILDING SCHEMES OBSERVANCE URGED (Pit Pi'ilss Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. A move in the direction of preventing the over-riding of local by-laws and building regulations by the Government was made by the Municipal Association Conference yesterday, when the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “That this conference views with deep concern the growing practice of Government departments and tenants of Crown lands committing breaches of the local body building by-laws, being of opinion that such practice is fostering disrespect of properly-constituted authority and is subversive of the best interests of good government. “The conference further strongly urges tile Government to arrange that all work carried out shall be subject to the local body by-laws and that permits shall be obtained even though no fees arc pai-ci." Discussion on the matter arose as a result of the presentation of the following remit by Mr. J. A. C. Allum on behalf of the Auckland City Council: —“That in connection with building operations undertaken by Government departments, it is recommended that legislation be enacted requiring the Crown to adopt the same procedure as a private builder, namely, to supply the local authority with building plans, to take out a building permit, and to pay the usual fee.”

State Should Sid Example

Mr. Allum said that he realised that the principle of the remit might be regarded as a curtailment of the prerogatives of the Crown, but he would like to say that the remit had been drafted prior to the recent disastrous lire in Wellington. He thought the Government should set an example by complying with the by-laws designed for the promotion of public health ancl safety. It was subversive of good government for the general Government to ignore such regulations. The president, Mr. T. Jordan, said that the matter had been considered the previous evening by the executive committee, which had formulated a resolution that the conference might think covered the position more fully. He suggested its substitution for Mr. Ahum's motion. This course was agreed to and the resolution, as set out above, was carried