CITY'S GROWTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 13

CITY'S GROWTH

ACTIVITY IN AUCKLAND BUILDING AND EXPANSION CONFIDENCE FUTURE TRADE BUOYANCY Building and construction work in Auckland, either planned or in progress, provides clear-cut evidence of genuine confidence in the future of the city and of the rich province which it serves. Schemes in the city and suburbs are estimated to involve the expenditure of several million pounds during the next few years, and the same buoyant atmosphere can be sensed in several provincial towns. The depression years put a temporary stop to the progress of Auckland, as they did to other districts, but to-day there is every indication of a period of brisk development.

Quite apart from the depression, a factor which had a marked bearing on building and construction activities in Auckland during recent years was tho decision of many large concerns tc transfer their head offices to Wellington, but there is now conclusive proof that this has had only a temporary effect on tho local position. Business has gone ahead and. although administration in many instances may bo carried out from Wellington, several firms have found that the expansion in trade necessitates the employment of additional staff and the use of larger business premises, purely for local purposes. Port Extensions Works to bo undertaken in Auckland reflect not only the growth of the city, but also tho growth in production from the rich farmlands of the province. Auckland is pre-eminently a port, and it is significent that the Auckland Harbour Board has announced a future policy of wharf extensions, embracing the construction of a new export wharf. The whole programme is estimated to cost £1,190,000, and, at the same time, a large dairy produce store is to be erected on waterfront land by the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Limited. These projected works are evidence of confidence in the province as well as the citv.

The city as a whole must expand with its trade, and plans for the future aim at the provision of essential facilities on a scale designed to make allowance for future growth. Toward the end of last month the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board adopted the comprehensive scheme for the sewerage of the southern area of the metropolitan district tvith treatment works and outfall at Brown's Island., The whole scheme is likely to cost more than £1,500,000. Community Services Other community services are to be provided in the projected modernising and rebuilding of the Auckland Hospital; the erection of a new building to bouse Government departments on the site of the old Shorthand Street Post Office; additions to the Chief Post Office in the shape of a new four-storey building on the old railway statioii site; the building of new suburban post offices at Devonport. Grey,.- Lynn and Avondalc, together with alterations and additions to the existing offices* at Epsom, Kingsland, Dominion Road, Newmarket, Ellerslie and Parnell;.the erection of a new central fire station at the corner of Pitt Street and Grey'* Avenue; the completion of the municipal transport terminal; and the construction of new intermediate schools at Ponsonby and Onehurtga. Housing also bulks largely in the plans for the future. The Government has given work in this direction -an impetus in the launching of its housing schemes at Orakei and its plans for the development of the Casey Estate at Ponsonby. All told, Government expenditure on housing in Auckland is likely to be about £500.000. Private Building

Private building is also proceeding steadily, although State competition, the shortage of labour and continued legislative interference in the relations between landlord and tenant are probably responsible for retarding the normal rate of progress*. Even with the Government- bousing schemes, there is evidence that a long period of concentrated building will be necessary in order to overcome the present housing shortage. This, again, is proof of the continued growth of the city. Numerous schemes are on foot for the erection of large blocks of fiats in the city and other private projects embrace enlargements to factory and warehouse premises. Rebuilding proposals by the Bank of New Zealand and the Bank of New South Wales are also regarded as evidence of commercial confidence, and the manner in which business is developing is revealed by the fact that at least three additional branches of banks are to be provided in Queen Street and Newmarket. Developments in Aviation

Another point of considerable importance is the future of Auckland as an air port and its probable develop-* ment into the most important junction in the southern Pacific for commercial aviation. The time is rapidly approaching when modern facilities will have to be provided close to the city for air services which, before long, will span the world to reach New Zealand. The activity, planned or in progress, is a reflection of the general trading position. In this respect, Auckland seems destined to experience a period of remarkable progress during the next few years and it is more than probable that further important schemes will be planned or inaugurated before the Dominion celebrates its centenary-in three years. i