Factory Operations And Town Planning Discussed

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27442, 31 August 1954, Page 12

Factory Operations And Town Planning Discussed

Residents nearby who have objected l to a factory at 4 Faraday street, Sydenham, and have complained that they received no satisfaction from the City Council, have been informed by the council's housing and town-planning committee that the council has no control of the use of existing buildings in such instances, and that the matter was in their own hands to take legal action if a nuisance existed.

The residents were also informed that the council would make representations to the Formica Fabricating Co. regarding shifting to an "industrial" area.

“The same advice has been given to residents on several occasions, but it would appear that they do not wish to take the only effective proceedings open to them.” reported the town planning committee to the council last evening. That the deputation had been well and courtesously received had been minuted-

“I. as spokesman, have led a deputation to the town planning committee and was given no satisfaction,” Mr F. I. Leigh wrote to the Mayor. “It is reputed by a most reliable source, that Cr Baldwin has remarked to the effect that *he got rid of us’ as a deputation and that we are now ‘satisfied.’ This is far from the truth; we as a depution intend in a short while to ask the newspaper people to give our correspondence. replies and actions full publicity, because we now feel that Cr. Baldwin and the town planning committee have not acted above-board and reported all at the council meetings. Miss Howard was given to understand by those concerned at the council that all matters had been satisfactorily settled, thus no more was done, reported. or acted upon, although we nave protested with evidence on many, many occasions since.” The Fire Brigade's inspecting officer reported that the occupancy of the building was classed a high fire hazard and In view of the construction, the premises were considered a high fire risk. They were not however, considered a hazard .to surrounding Property. “Permits in Residential Areas” *T find that the town planning committee is giving permits in residential areas for factories and halls,” said Cr. M. B. Howard, M.P. “If it is residential. it should be residential, and surely there should be no exception to that rule. Where a factory was there in the pest it is a different thing. We can hardly close it down; but where applications come before the committee for factories and such like in residential areas it should be very tight.” ‘'Would you say the same for an industrial area?” asked Cr. Baldwin. ”No—it is quite different” replied Cr. Howard. “If districts are zoned as ‘industrial' and the people go and live in them, they know of the nuisance. These people in Faraday street have been there as long as the old building, which was not used as a factory and was not a nuisance around them. The people did not go to the nuisance. Permission to use the building as a factory was granted recently. I was told, after the people had been to the committee, that the committee had explained the position to them and they were perfectly satisfied. That was the end of it as far as I was concerned. but I find that the people are hot under the collar. None is satisfied with the explanation given them by toe committee. How can old people take out an injunction? You can’t get any solicitor to take up an action for an injunction without costs—and if I know them they won’t take a bob down and a bob a week, as some others Cr. J. B. Tait: They will get sympathy. A Bab Down”

The old people would not live long enough to pay a bob down and a bob a week, continued Cr. Howard. It would be utterly impassible for the pmsi oners to take out an injunction or go to afty Court. The way toe permits were granted wanted closer looking into. The people went away / from the committee without understanding the position. She did not understand it—and bow could the people know. She had a little more, than average brains and she could not understand ft. “Is this a retadential areal” asked . Cr. Tait “f toKTit is comntesbtal>r Cr. HowaadnEd shMtoo wanteTto know if Tffii Psßitationg hdl been made to toe firm tip shift taaan fadustrfal area and wh< was the answer. “It is unfortunate that some councillors fty to make a political issue out Qfrtown pfrnmng," arid Cr. politics in /Sown olannine.” Cr. Howard: present that There is ’I own planning- is what it meanstown planning," said Cr. Baldwin. “I say there is a lot of room for education in town planning. Some councffiors either do not wish to know what town planning Is or they just don’t understand; therefore I am of the opinion that some member of the staff of the town-planning office should be available to the public to enlighten them as to what town planning is and the reasons for town planning as far as Christchurch is concerned. Cr. Howard said that tn residential areas there should not be permitted any . industrial affairs. I quite agree. There is a petition before the council tonight to prohibit industry. Where the devil is industry to go?” AMdktte. to Shift Of the deputation of 11 from Milton street, about three were aged pensioners, said Cr. Baldwin. The rest were working people. The committee was full of sympathy for than, and told them how to go about having the nuisance stopped, because it was beyond the control of the council. The firm concerned had made application to the town-planning office to shift to a heavy industrial area, after representations had been made to it Cr. Howard: Good. • **lt is very bard for the town-plan-ning committee to operate when we are doing our best for everyone concerned, and then we have councillors

'coming forward and making complaints. instead of seeking the information they require either from the staff or members of the committee,” said Cr. Baldwin. “This has been going on for some months. I have no objection to their asking for information, but when they come to the council or make a hue and cry that could be ironed out quite easily it makes it difficult for town planning to operate. It accounts for many complaints coming forward.”

The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, MJ 9 .) said that all the architects of New Zealand were very concerned about the development of the country and town planning and the spread of residences over market gardening land. It was only a matter of time when the city area would be occupied by industrial or commercial premises, yet they had the development of industries into other areas. “I honestly think that the time has come for a new town-planning organisation to have a look at the town planning,” said Mr Macfarlane. “I object to certain industries being placed in one particular area. I would protect the area in the west end near the parks, yet we are allowing industrial expansion. We are pulling down houses which have a life of 25 or 30 years and putting people out. I hope the architects will come along and explain to the new town-planning authority their views on development. In our zoning we can go further afield. I think it is positively ridiculous.” Neighbours’ Differences Cr. T. H. McCombs said the council had to be careful that it did not take upon itself the settling of differences between neighbours. If industrial areas were not provided, the city would cease to expand. The council had no right to settle an argument between neighbours. The inspectors could come in only when the nuisance was injurious to health. The method of settling who was in the right or the wrong was in the courts. A complaint by letter did not mean that the writer was in the wrong. Anybody who had been in politics knew that only half toe’ story was told in letters. There was provision in toe law for assistance to poor people in a-legal action. Cr. Tait said one of the most difficult functions of the council was town planning. Most criticism of town planning had been made by three members of the House of Representatives—the Mayor and Crs. Howard and Mathison—who had helped to make the law. The various councils had done a great deal to help town planning and they had considered the problems not from the political angle. Each chairman of toe town-planning committee had suffered in his political life. The development of industrial areas was a problem, but it could be faced more easily today because of the changed design and lay-out of factories, said Cr. Tait One of the weaknesses was that legislation did not protect the future use of factories. The co-operation of toe council was needed to carry out the principle of town planning. After 11 years, and for a term chairman, on toe town-planning committee, Cr W. P. Glue said the work was most thankless. Cr. McCombs was the only member outside the committee who appreciated its troubles. Once sections were available in an industrial area, people rushed in to build houses. They should be kept out. Cr. Howard: I agree. Cr. Glue said Faraday street was in an area zoned as “general commercial.” The building had been long in existence. It was not helpful when Cr. Howard said the staff should be sacked. If town planning was abandoned. a fellmongery might be started in Cathedral square. “If we don’t get a little sympathy, Tve had it,” said Cr. Glue. Cr. Howard: And so have L “Yes, you've had it,” replied Cr. Glue. “Have. I the right to come here to speak without going crawling to the chairman of a committee first,” said Cr. Howard, who expressed resentment that half truths had been told and that she had been accused of being P °^ S Mayor: You have toe right to I speak. Cr. Baldwin: You also have the right to approach the chairman to get information first.