CITY DEVELOPMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26233, 17 August 1946, Page 6

CITY DEVELOPMENT

MANY WORKS PLANNED PROGRESS IMPEDED A review of industrial development in Dunedin shows that it is along the lines of the expansion of existing concerns rather than the establishment of new industries that additional employment will be provided. It has always been recognised that Dunedin has been soundly entrenched for years as an industrial centre that many of .her industries are meeting the markets in almost every city and town in ’the Dominion, and that in some cases a certain amount of her manufactured products is going overseas. It is natural, therefore, that Dunedin manufacturers should look to the expansion of industries that are already soundly established, and which have, over the years, been able to produce articles of the highest standard and at the same time meet competition not only from overseas, but also from industries located in other centres. Some idea of the magnitude of proposed expansion may be gained from the following list of firms which have either completed plans, have them in the course of preparation, or have made aplication to build and to whom permits have so far not been granted:— Kempthorne, Prosser Ltd.: New laboratories and new sunlit factory. Williamson, Jeffery, Ltd.:A new building consolidating the present scattered factories. J. and \V- Faulkner, Ltd.: A large new factory. Coull Somerville and Wilkie, Ltd.: New printing works. McLeod Brothers, Ltd.: Major extensions and complete reconstruction of all existing buildings. Mackintosh Caley, Ltd.: New corrugated board factoryStevenson and Cook, Ltd.: New foundry warehouses, and staff buildings. Lane and Co.: Extensive alterations and additions to present T. and P. buildings. International Harvester Company, Ltd., New workshops and warehouse. Reilly’s Central Parking Station:

Garage and workshop extensions. Messrs Cadbury Fry Hudson, Ltd., have planned extensions of considerable magnitude, and it is understood that a permit to proceed has been granted. The Co-operative Dairy Company has also received unofficial word of permission to erect a new milk factoryExtensive Programme The story of expansion would not, however, be complete without mention of the contemplated office building for the T. and G. Insurance and several other office blocks, representing a value of over £400,000. Educational buildings contemplated include certain University buildings, such as the dental cilnic, the library and classroom accommodation, and new /school buildings for the Education Department, again calling for an expenditure of about £750,000. Hospital buildings for which plans are being prepared represent an expenditure of over £1,000.000. The magnitude of the building programme, apart from housing, is such, therefore, that orderly planning is necessary, and a controlled system such as the permit system is vitally necessary. While it is admitted that building control must continue for some considerable time, it is necessary to examine the effect of such control on Dunedin’s building programme in relation to other centres. This is all the more necessary as, within recent months, almost every application for building, particularly industrial building, has been deferred On the other hand, a building is being erected in Auckland today for the offshoot of an Australian concern, and it is absorbing large quantities of building materials. Every encouragement is being given to this organisation to secure priority of supply. Three licences have been granted for the manufacture of motor tyres in New Zealand, and a start has already been made on the Auckland factory, while tenders are being invited in Wellington and Christchurch for the other two factories. It is a known fact that the highest priority of supply, particularly for cement, has been made available to these factories, and here again the demand for labour in each of these concerns will represent not fewer than 1500 to 2000 employees. This must of necessity be drawn from the present labour pool, which is already incapable of meeting the whole of the industrial demands. Permits Granted in North

In addition several new Auckland industries, calling for the erection of premises have received permits and have either been completed or are in the course of erection. The same story applies in Wellington, where industrial plans involving extensive building programme are under way.

There is one phase of expansion in the North Island that cannot be overlooked. It has been clearly indicated that for at least two years there will be a continuance of the power shortage, and when it is realised that right through the whole of the North Island there are shut-down periods to conserve power, and when it is also considered that these shut-down periods have to be borne by the existing industries, either in reduced profits or in the increased price of the commodities they are manufacturing, the fact of further increasing the demand by the establishment of such enormous organisations as have been indicated should be sufficient proof to the control authorities that the present policy is clearly wrong, and that consideration should of necessity be given to centres in the South Island where power is available and where the material resources which arc being diverted to other centres could be used.