60 FLATS PLANNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24690, 16 September 1943, Page 4

60 FLATS PLANNED

SCHEME IN PARNELL PROVISION AFTER THE WAR A statement that the Government building now being erected on the corner of Parnell Rise and Bedford street would be expanded after the war to provide 60 flats was made yesterday by the Minister of Housing, the Hon, **• Semple. The Minister said the building, which was intended for- an armed forces hostel, had been designed by a svstem of prefabrication in precast concrete panels and timber framed panels,so that a large part would be _ permanent. This portion would provide 16 flats, and the scheme would be extended to bring the total to 60. The whole scheme, said Mr. Semple, took in the area Hgtfnded by Bedford Street. Parnell Rise and Gracroft and Gittos Streets. However, it would not be possible to develop the site completely until after the war, and until alternative accommodation was provided for the persons already living on the area.' Mr. Semple said that, by using a method of permanent building adapted for temporary wartime use, much of the waste associated with temporary buildings had been avoided. The method would also make post-war housing more quickly available by decreasing the amount of reconstruction necessary. LOCAL ANT) GENEBAL Traffic Control A marked improvement in the observance of speed regulations by service vehicles in the Newmarket Borough was reported at a meeting of the Borough Council last night. This was the result of co-operation from service authorities and the police after complaints about the excessive speed, of military vehicles had been made by the council. Blood Donor Service During last, month the St. John Ambulance blood transfusion service filled a request for 109 donors for the Auckland Hospital and other hospitals. The services of an average of 100 donors a month have been obtained by the St. John ambulance, but as each donor is not called again for two months' after giving his quota of blood, more donors are required.. Many of the donors have been lost to the service as they have entered the armed forces. Collection for Museum A decision to purchase for £SO an important collection of carved bamboo boxes from Bougainville Island, in the Solomons group, was made at yesterday's meeting of the council of the Auckland Institute and Museum. The . collection, which comprises 264 pieces, was made by the Rev. A. H. Yoyce, and the carvings portray the evolution of native decoration in a variety of districts. The collection will be added to the museum's Melanesian section of ethnological exhibits. . r Building Permits The question of granting temporary building permits provoked some discussion at a meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council last night. It was decided that each application should be judged on its merits, the case under discussion being one where additional premises were urgently required for essential work. A' resolution by the deputy-mayor, Mr. R. E. Newport, that this and other temporary build ing permits should be granted only foi the duration of the war and six month afterward was passed by the council

Awarding Damages Directing a special jury yesterday on a claim for £9OO general damages, Mr. Justice Callan made the comment that if that amount was awarded then a great many other claimants, if they knew the circumstances, would feel they had not had the right jury. The right jury would have been the one sitting that day. He considered such remarks not improper because it was of the greatest importance that these law Courts should command the respect and confidence of the community, and that in awarding damages juries throughout the country should have some kind of coherence and consistency.

Relaxing Restrictions A statement that he had made representations to the Army authorities for the removal of the barbed wire from Narrow Neck Beach, was made at last night's meeting of the Devonport Borough Council by the Mayor, Mr. R. G. May. He said that he had not so far had any reply, but he was hopeful in view of the fact that permission had been granted for the removal of wire from Takapuna Beach. In its capacity as Rangitoto Island Domain Board, the council decided to . approach the military authorities to seek some relaxation in the restrictions governing access to the island by civilians. Valuable Book Published $ An important activity recently of the Auckland Institute and Museum had been the publication of a book ''Food Is Where You Find It," designed to help Allied servicemen in the South Pacific in search of edible food, stated the report of the director, Dr. Gilbert Archey, presented at yesterday's meeting of the council. The main part of the work had _been undertaken by Miss Lucy Cranwell, of the museum staff, and by United States . officers. Tt described marine and vegetable growth and life that could serve as food, and would be invaluable to men in an emergency. The book had been well received and large orders had been placed by both British* and American military and, naval authorities. The book was being sold to the publio.