Refusal To Order Non-publication

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 1

Refusal To Order Non-publication

Asked yesterday to order that a remark he had made earlier be not published, the chairman of the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board (Mr L. W. P. Watts) refused, and said that in his belief publication would be in the public interest.

During the hearing of an application by Anglo Dominion, Ltd., to store inert chemicals in a brick house in Saxon street (between Cashel street and Tuam street), Mr Watts said that the board had been told that the City Council would submit proposals for the zoning review for the rezoning of the whole block. At the end of another case, Mr J. N. Matson, who had appeared for Anglo Dominion, Ltd., said that the City Council’s town-planning officer (Mr R. M. Critchley) had drawn attention to the remark, to the effect that the Saxon street area might be

zoned industrial in the notdistant future. Publication of this remark was likely to affect the values of land, and could act to the detriment of property-owners if they were approached by speculators, Mr Matson said in asking for an order that the remark be not published. “It is better that it should be published, Mr Matson,” said Mr Watts. "If this area is to be rezoned, it is better for the property-owners to know. “If there is any real danger to them, we might exercise our powers to help them, though I am not sure just what those powers are. Wider publicity probably will achieve what you are seeking.” Mr Critchley said it was usual, where zone changes were proposed, to keep the subjeit in committee and to notify those concerned in committee. In the case of Saxon street, it was very early in the review procedure. “All that has happened is that you have expressed an opinion, or the council has expressed an opinion,” said Mr Watts. “The council is not bound to rezone, or the question may well come before the board. There is no certainty about rezoning.” It happened quite often that the possibility of rezoning was publicly discussed, said Mr Watts. Mr Critchley said he thought the people whose properties were affected, and who had accepted the present zoning, should first be told. “I get your point, but we must agree to differ,” said Mr Watts. “I feel that this matter should not be kept under cover. You can rest assured that some people are going to find out, whatever appears in the press. “I am reluctant to Impose restrictions on the press, and, in fact, I doubt if the powers in the act allow it.” The company’s application was granted, subject to City Council conditions.