Rolleston’s future factories planned

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33981, 23 October 1975, Page 19

Rolleston’s future factories planned

(From Our Own Reporter) . WELLINGTON. ! Christchurch firms which plan to extend their activities to Rolleston might be assured of special treatment iff they get in touch with the interim Commissioner for Rolleston to discuss their requirements. This was the reaction of] the Minister of Works and Development (Mr Connelly)! when approached by “The] Press” about the problems of firms such as D. H. Bull,] Ltd. an important steelforging concern. Mr D. H. Bull wrote to the editor of “The Press” asking for an explanation of why his company and three others which had contracted to buy heavy industrial land at Rolleston and were planning rapid development, had apparently been diverted by the Government. Mr Bull said in his letter: “Because of this intervention, coupled with subsequent Government actions, we find it extremely difficult to ignore the implication of some conspiracy against us. "Second, why has the Government refused to compensate us in any way? The only communication we have had from the Ministry of Works is a denial of our right to compensation on the! ground that this frustration! of our incompleted contracts

gave us no title to the land. “Third, the Government surely must explain, and truthfully, about the delay in town and country planning appeal procedures. Is this not a key part of our system of justice? Our objections were prepared in December, 1973. More than a year passed before we received notice of a hearing to be held on February 10, 1975. “We went to the appointed place with our case prepared. It has not been heard yet In terms of our circumstances and our rights as New Zealanders, allegations of the need for prolonged legal clarification have been nothing more than a pretence and an evasion by the Rowling-Ti-zard Government. These matters had no bearing on our business. “Fourth, can Mr Rowling and his Government employees substantiate in any sensible way that they can better establish industry at Rolleston, and at a lower price than we can ourselves? The land we bought was heavy industrial land at a coni-

imercially viable price for lour project. All the services] l required for our business: /were already available. I “Will the Government be /able to offer freehold land at II Rolleston at a similar price, [for title to leasehold land at an equivalent rent of $3OO i an acre a year, and what is ,:the cost of the delay to date the Rolleston fiasco.” Most effective Mr Bull describes his com- ' pany as the only effective I steel-forging concern in New 'Zealand. It makes forged components for industry, the i Railways, the Electricity Department, and others. Of its: associates in the Rolleston project, Control Products, i Ltd, makes conveyer gear ’ and has an expanding business in rubber-moulding and ■ precision machining. I Bishop Steel, Ltd, was in the final stages of preparations to establish a service I to D. H. Bull, Ltd, and other ’ industries in special steels end other materials, particularly from North America and Eastern Europe. The fourth company was planning to produce ferrowood laminations and to rejuvenate interest in West Coast timber. The proposals ■ of each company were complementary. ■ “We were looking forward to expanding mutual business, both for home markets and in export. All our plans I have been demolished by : Government action andi harassment,” Mr Bull]

said. ■ When this inquiry was refered to him in Wellington, I Mr Connelly initiated im- - mediate inquiries with the Commisioner of Works. He replied as follows: "Mr Bull is aggrieved that the planning process for Rolleston has interrupted private plans. for development in the area. The Government regrets the inconvenience caused by the scheme to people in the negotiating stage of land purchase and development. At the same time, it is satisfied that temporary restrictions on private development were justified in terms of

ensuring a well-conceived, and comprehensively-planned new town.

“The Government is keen to attract private capital, and investment, to the new town and realises that this is esential for the long-term success of Rolleston. Now that the planning consultants have reported on the proposed form of development at Rolleston, the Government intends interesting prospective industrial concerns.

“I believe that industrialists will derive great benefit from the public provision of a plentiful supply of relatively cheap, fully-serviced, (industrial land within a balanced community, and accessible to a stable work force,” Mr Connelly said. “D. H. Bull, Ltd, an important steel-forging concern, is just the type of industry recommended for Rolleston by the consultants, and would be more than welcome in the new town. Accordingly, I have asked the interim Commissioner for Rolleston to meet representatives of D. H. Bull, Ltd, to see what the firm’s particular requirements may be, and how these can best be met. Sympathy “Finally, Mr Bull is disturbed about the delay in the hearing procedures for taking land at Rolleston. I fully sympathise with Mr (Bull in this, and I am as keen as he is to see the 'objections brought on for ■ early hearing.

“However, I have no control over the hearing of objections, which are entirely in the hands of the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board, an independent tribunal. I understand that some of the delay has been because of proceedings in the Supreme Court, seeking a review of the validity of the notice of confirmation to take the land.

“Again, these proceedings were not instituted by the Government, and there therefore, it is unfair to blame the Government for such delay,” Mr Connelly said.