BUILDING BY-LAW.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18158, 24 October 1930, Page 9

BUILDING BY-LAW.

DISCUSSION IN COUNCIL. “ DILAPIDATED HUTS.” The statement that a building at Frankton used for the preparation of food was in a dreadful state and consisted in the main of old packing cases, was made by Cr. S. V. Tyler at the meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council. The subject arose through a late letter from the Borough Inspector •staling that an applicant for a permit to construct a building of wood and iron wilhin the brick area at Frank Lon Junction had commenced operations prior to the application being received bv the Borough, and was the outcome of certain alterations asked for by the inspector under the Borough by-laws in respect to premises where food was prepared and stored. The building adjoining was built entirely of wood, while the proposed building was to lake the place of three or lour dilapidated sheds, and would lie a decided Improvement. He could not,, howevei, recommend a wood and iron structure of sucli dimensions in the briclc area. i s. V- Tyler said the by-law should he complied with or altered. At present the building consisted ol‘ packing cases which covered lrom the main building to where the occupants washed and prepared food. The Council had been on Ihe verge of condemning the premises altogether. He had inspected the place in company wUh the borough inspector, and found

it dreadful—he did not know such a thing existed. Cr. Tyler pointed out, however, that the applicant had requested the builder to secure the permit, and had commenced operations under the impression that he had done so. Instead the builder had not applied. In moving that the application should be granted Cr. Tyler said he considered that the by-law forcing people who were desirous of carrying out alterations to existing premises to do so in brick or alter permanent material to a depth of 100 feet in such a sparsely populated area , was unjust,, particularly in these times when business people were experiencing such bad times. If the application was not granted then the premises would ; remain in the existing condition unless the Council condemned them, which, would be a harsh act at this juncture. The proposed alterations would mean that the present buildings would all be done away wilh anil a new building with concrete foundations and lloors. and walls in iron, would be erected in its place, thus giving a modern sanitary building. While he considered the Borough inspector correct in enforcing the law Cr- Tyler ma'ntained the Borough bylaw should be altered in this area and other parts of the town where it was found to be retarding progress. Unsatisfactory State of Affairs. Cr. C. J. W. Barton said he was aslonished at what had transpired that evening, and that 'such an unsatisfactory state of affairs had existed so long. It was not for Councillors to go “ poking their noses ” in other people’s hack yards, maintained Cr. Barton. An inspector was paid to see lo that. If ;

the building was not up to standard the applicant should be made to build a satisfactory one. He could not see that times had so altered that a retrograde step should be necessary. Cr. P. Luxlord contended that as the subject had seen Drought up in a late letter which Councillors had not had the opportunity of perusing, the matter should he deferred so that Councillors could inspect the premises and decide the case on its merits. The Mayor, Mr J. R. Fow contended that there was only one thing to do al the moment and that was to support the inspector. It had been pointed out that the Council could not waive a ay-law, it could only alter it. It night be embarrassing for the applicant for the moment, but lie would get all the advantages of a permanent building, at the same time within the Health Act. He did not think they were justified in letting their sympathies take control, concluded the Mayor. The Council was the guardian of the people’s safety, and a lire in the block would be disastrous. Cr. Tyler remarked that permission bad been given to the Franklon Hotel Lo shift a wooden building back. If the application was turned down lie would take the inspector round to sec a l’ew places of a like nature. The Council decided lo decline the ipplication and thereby adhere to the by-law.