CEMENT WILL BE HARD TO OBTAIN; TOO MUCH RED TAPE INVOLVED

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 November 1949, Page 4

CEMENT WILL BE HARD TO OBTAIN; TOO MUCH RED TAPE INVOLVED

“The Minister’s promise of sufficient cement for footpaths to permit householders and others to carry out improvements during the holiday season is going to be difficult to obtain, for many persons,” said the president of the Wanganui Employers’ Association, Mr S. J. Sullivan, in a statement yesterday. “A member of our association approached the City Council authorities to obtain a permit for cement for a footpath, to be used fiuring the holiday period from December 1 to January 14. He was informed that a permit for the promised cement could not be procured unless he first drew a plan showing situation of house, including fence and existing footpaths. Then before the permit could be secured, he would have to submit the plan for approval to the Building Controller at Palmerston North nominating a local cement merchant. On the Building Controller’s approval a permit would be issued. “Apparently,” said Mr. Sullivan, “the promise of the Minister of Works is going to be difficult to implement, on account of the existence of bureaucratic control which, to many property owners, is too involved to take advantage of. Further, the usual delay in reply would, in many cases, make it too late to take advantage of the promised cement to be used during the holidays, seeing it involves a plan and submission to the Building Controller to obtain his consent.”