185 (217)
2242,3
Q. They are unsuitable, in many places inapplicable ?
A.-Yes.
Q. And you think that too much latitude is given to the officials in the administration of the law?
A.
There is no loophole for them, and they naturally stick to the letter of the law.
Mr. Shelton Hooper.-And you would go so far as to say that the Sanitary Board did not exercise often enough their power which is invested in them for granting exemptions?
A. From my point of view, I should say yes.
Q.-Speaking as a practical man?
A. Yes.
Q-With regard to the passing of plans and inspection of buildings, do you think it would be an improvement to amalgamate the Building Authority, or to let it merge into the Sanitary Board, and to have only one Authority, as at home?
A.-
..-I should think it would save time, certainly, to have one Authority only.
The Chairman.-At the present moment, you have to apply to two Departments
*
A.--We dont absolutely apply. We send in plans to one Department, and they are handed over to the other.
Mr. Shelton Hooper.-And by saving time to the buildings, naturally it means saving money ?
A. Yes.
Q. And saving money is for the benefit of the Colony? The benefit of the owner- because he gets his rents sooner, for the capital he invests, and the benefit of the Government, because the property becomes rateable sooner, and they can collect a greater amount of rates in the course of a year?
A. Yes.
Q-And we may assume the benefit of the tenant, by his being able to occupy as soon as possible?
A. Yes.
Q-And therefore it would be for the general good of the Colony if that time could be
saved?
A. Yes.
Q-Now, supposing such a Board existed as exists to-day, and there was no Building Authority, how do you think it would work, if they had an Executive Engineer, and a Medical Officer of Health, one to be responsible for all structural things that have to be supervised, at present done so by the Building Authority and the Board, and having to do with the passing of plans, and the plans of Architects therewith, and a Medical Officer of Health to attend to all hygienic matters and infectious diseases, and all that pertains to a Doctor, on the same lines as the Authorities at home? Do you think that would be an improvement?