EXPANSION OF FACTORIES

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27750, 30 August 1955, Page 12

EXPANSION OF FACTORIES

INDUSTRY IN HOUSING AREAS

CASES TO BE TREATED ON MERITS

When established industries in the Linwood and Sydenham areas recently rezoned for residential purposes wish to expand on property not already bought, each application will be considered on its merits, the City Council agreed last evening. In rezoning the areas, the council made the zoning subject to existing industries being permitted to remain, and, with the council’s approval, to expand on property already purchased; and subject to persons or firms who had already bought property being permitted to use it for light industry. “This means that industry already there will be allowed’ to expand.” said Cr. C. Baldwin. “All the council has done is to stop other industry from going into the areas. I thought the objective was to keep industry confined in the area. The new chairman of the town-planning committee has come round to my way of thinking and wishes industry to expand because we cannot do without industry. That is why I was sacked from the committee.

“I think the whole question of rezoning should be recommitted,” he said. “We are creating a few monopolies to the detriment of the minor people who wish to set up industry on their own behalf.” Cr. J. Mathison, chairman of the town planning committee, said the decision, recommended by the committee, clarified the situation. “Cr. Baldwin is trying to read something into it which is not there,” he said. The decision perpetuated the right of the council, or any succeeding council, to change its decision, he said.. Future councils could not be bound. An application by an engineering firm m Wordsworth street to expand by acquiring land at 79 Brisbane street, . which is in an area rezoned to residential, was approved by the council. The housing and townplanning committee recommended the application after an inspection of the property.