DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24868, 7 May 1946, Page 5

DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIES

PLEA FOR PROVISION IN PLANNING « ZONED LAND OFTEN NOT AVAILABLE ” I Emphasising his opinion that the city had grown up around its industries and that they should be given the utmost consideration in planning the development of the city, Cr. J. E Tait at a meeting of the Christchurch City Council which last evening considered the interim report of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, urged that the committee should be asked to consider the advisability of setting aside addiI tional arrSs for industries. He said the report showed that 40.25 per cent, of the urban population was ® n ? a f ed * n . the manufacturing and building industries, but only 2.10 per cent, of the area was set aside for commercial purposes and 3.64 per cent for light and heavy industries. It was being f°und that many applicants for land in the industrial zones were unfole to set up their factories because to e . .J 3 ™* was occupied by residences, until these were cleared away the land wa ?. not available. He knew the Metropolitan Planning Committee was consideling the setting aside of additional land for industrial purposes, but he would urge it to make an investigation to find out just how much of the land already set aside and yet to tee set aside was actually available. Cr - .£• D. Griffiths, chairman of the councils housing and town planning committee, said the industrial zones shown on the map were ample, but it was true that a considerable amount of tms land was now being used for other purposes, and in the present housing position it was not possible to remove dwellings from such land. Again, much or it was being used for rural purposes and some was “tied up” in overseas estates. On some of this land there was a colossal number of sub-standard dwellings.” The Metrooolitan Planning Committee realised the position, and was making a survey to ascertain what land of that zone for industrial purposes was available now and what would not be available for some time. He added that the Housing Improvement Act would eventually be helofwl in removing sub-standard dwellings and clearing the way for the use of the land for its proper purposes.