Civic Planning

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31385, 2 June 1967, Page 8

Civic Planning

Sir,—The Master Builders’ Federation says that local authorities are profiting at the expense of the new home owner, but is it right to allow the present rural fringe development to continue? Necessity will surely ultimately compel us to accept higher-density housing, properly planned, in areas where services are already available. For years, single-storey houses have been built without regard to service economics and

to a budget, which has reduced thermal and sound insulation to a minimum and often provided the most Victorian of heating equipment. As a result our winter smoke pall is extending to ever wider circles. Before long “Aorangi” will be obscured from north-west suburbanites on bad inversion days. Why should the established ratepayers subsidise housing development when older residents are unable to sell their too large properties in the city? Now is the time to state firmly that' our central areas are not going to be left to rot—Yours, etc., PATRICK NEARY. June 1, 1967.