“OUTSTANDING TOWN”

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28222, 9 March 1957, Page 10

“OUTSTANDING TOWN”

Sir James Fletcher Defends Kawerau

(Neio Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 8.

Sir James Fletcher does not agree with the Australian architect, Mr H. Seidler, that Kawerau, the New Zealand newsprint centre, is “a mess.” Mr Seidler, he said, was “talking a lot of nonsense.” His criticism of the town was unrealistic.

Mr Seidler, guest speaker at the New Zealand architectural conference, said in an interview in Auckland that the planning of Kawerau had offered the perfect opportunity to set a brilliant example to the world, but the opportunity had been thrown away. Sir James Fletcher said Mr Seidler had got to realise he was seeing only the first phase of a town which had been planned for a population of 10,000. The completed plan would look much different.

He agreed with Mr Seidler that the telegraph poles and wires were unsightly, but it was a matter of expediency. If there had been more time the wires would most certainly have been put underground. The Government architects were to be congratulated in providing the amenities that were available at Kawerau in the short time of two years, said Sir James Fletcher. The housing had oeen built within two years. All dwellings were connected to sewers. All had power and unlimited water supplies. Comparisons

There were asphalt roads, miles of concrete footpaths with concrete kerbing and channelling. “Compare this with Rotorua and Mount Maunganui or even Hamilton,” said Sir James Fletcher.

The shopping centre, criticised by Mr Seidler, had better parking facilities than shopping areas in most towns of the same size as Kawerau. Another bigger shopping centre would be built when the town was properly developed. Thousands of trees had oeen planted, bowling greens and playing fields laid, churches, schools, and hotels built—all within a very short time. With unlimited time and unlimited money, more could have been done, but Sir James Fletcher said he was satisfied Kawerau, when it was completed, would be an outstanding town.