BUILDING IN PETONE.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1904, Page 2

BUILDING IN PETONE.

MINIMUM FRONTAGE INCREASED. AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION. An important matter affecting the future welfare of the Borough of Petone — the restrictions as to frontage of building sections — was before the Borough Council at a special meeting last evening. The Mayor (Mr. G. London) presided, and' there were also present: Councillors Castle, Macfarlane, Kidd, Hill, Piper, Wakehaniy Nicholson, and Cook. The Mayor pointed out that this matter had been fully discussed by the Bylaws Revision Committee, and would have come on with the other proposed alterations, but it was thought it would be rather late to have delayed it longei, as there was not a very great quantity of land remaining to be subdivided. Although a majority of the Committee favoured the 40ft minimum, there was a minority who considered the 33ft, as at present fixed by the bylaws, was quite sufficient. The time was probably coming when the present style of architecture in Petone (the building on one floor) would be altered, and they would see two-storied houses going up. A good dwelling of that description could be erected on a. 33ft section. He would also point out that larger sections would mean increased cost and a proportionately increased rent, so that the burden would fall on the rent-payers. Councillor Piper moved that : "On and after the date of the coming into force of this bylaw, no dwelling shall be erected on any kind having a less frontage than 40ft to a public or private street laid out and constructed by permission in writing of the Council ; such frontage of 40ft to be for the exclusive use of one dwelling only." This bylaw could not, of course, be retrospective, and would not affect past subdivisions. He did not believe there was anything whatever in the point made by the Mayor as to increased rents. Rents in Petone had reached their limit, and he believed it impossible for landlords to extract any more out of their tenants than they got at present. The Council had to look to the future, and if it neglected this opportunity it would be one of the most heinous crimes that could be attributed to the Council. Councillor Nicholson seconded the motion, and in endorsing the mover's remarks, added that there was still a large area to bo built upon in Petone. Councillors Kidd and Cook cordially supported the proposed change. Councillor Castle suggested adding to the motion a provision that where terraces of brick dwellings were put up the same restrictions should not apply. Councillor Wakeham thought that if this change was to be effected al all it should have been done before. The people they were likely to get in Petone were not the class for whom expensive houses on large sections could be built. There were not a few cases now where at least two families were living in one house because rents were high. There was little use enlarging the area to build large houses when the people could not pay rents. Councillor Macfarlane, in supporting the motion, pointed out that in the Old Country progressive corporations were buying up congested areas, and building houses at reasonable rentals for the ■« orking classes. What the Council should do was to see that the air space and health of the people was secured. In reply to a point made by the Mayor, Councillor Piper said there were nearly 200 acres of flat land still to be subdivided in Petone. The Mayor said he had not been converted by* the arguments in favour of the motion. The air space question was to some extent a bogey in Petone, for the air blew very keen about the district. The main point they must not lose sight of was that the motion would tend to create sections which it would either not, pay to improve, or if improved, would mean an increased rent, or the growth of the undesirable habit of more than one family living in one house. In fact it was a retrograde step the Council was taking. He was by no means sure that the limit of rents had been reached. He also feared that the prices of land in the disrict were inflated, partly perhaps by speculators. Councillor Piper: I would like to get the speculator right out of the country. The Mayor: Perhaps it is desirable to repress him to some extent, but I don't think this will do it. After some further discussion the motion was carried, the opening portion having first been altered to read : "On and after the date of this bylaw the frontage for dwellings to be erected on lands subdivided after this date shall be not less than 40ft." The necessary steps will now be taken to have the bylaw confirmed and finally adopted. _____^_______