DEAR LAND AND HIGH RENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 19 July 1905, Page 5

DEAR LAND AND HIGH RENTS

BUILDING RESTRICTIONS AT PETONE. Under the existing byla.ws of the Pc--tone Borough no house can be erected on a section (subdivided since the passing of the by .aw) of less than 40ft frontege. On Monday night, however, this provision was modified alter an interesting discussion provoked by a motion by Councillor Findlay. He moved during final consideration of recently revised bylaws : "A building may be erected on a section not less than 40ft frontage, said building to have exclusive use of a clear space not lees than 2000 square feet free from any erection thereon, with a space of 3ft on both sides from section boundaries, said building to have a party wall in brick, projecting beyond ah lean-tos. 'Iht building shall be for the exclusive use of two families on.y, and shall have a. ciose-bo^rued fenco. not less than 6ft high, and lm thick "the whole length of the section." Such a house, he added, could be built for £500, and each of the U\ o parts cou.d be let for 10s a week — rentals that could not be chaxged now because of the largo .size oi sucuous and tae ciurt. ot putting a decent building on such sections. In a, sbc-rooaied house it frequently happened that the rents in Petone were su high that families double-bonkod. Councillor Coles sa.d it was absolutely impoesib.e to build a house on a 40ft section in Petone and let it at a rental that could be easily borne by a working man, and at the same time get a leasonable rate of interest. People could not build at a reasonable rent od the Government valuations. Councillor M'Ewan moved as an amendment that ip< special cases the Council may grant a permit for a buLding to bo erected as specified in Councillor Findmotion on a section with a frontage of not less than 50ft and air space of not less than 3000 ft. Councillor Wakeham seconded. Councillor Nicholson considered that Councillor Findlay's motion was only playing with the matter. If auch a bylaw were passed the tendency would be as elsewhere, to increase the price of land. Councillor Macfarlane and Councillor Kidd said "the poor working man" was being used as a lever to increase the price of land. It was absurd to talk of reducing the frontages here to 20ft. The Mayor tuppoited the amendment. There v,as a long discussion, and in the end tho amendment was carried, the words "in special cases" being deleted. Councillors Macfarlane, Hastings, Nichol- ~ son, and Kidd opposed. It was also resolved on Councillor Findlay's motion, and subject to its being legal : "That a Plan Committee of two Councillors, together with the Engineer, .shall on a day appointed, once a week, pass all plans and specifications submitted to them, having power to reject and have altered all designs and elevations judged by them to be of an unsuitable nature, the same plans to be amended as directed by the aforesaid committee." Elsewhere -will bo found a notice inserted by Messrs. Thomson and Brown, regarding a list of "quick s»lo" prof ertisi. Mr. W. B. Chonnolls, land and estate agent, Masterton, advertises for sale sheep sad cattlo rung.