TOKOROA PROBLEMS

Putaruru Press, Volume XXI, Issue 1231, 22 May 1947, Page 8

TOKOROA PROBLEMS

URBAN SETTLEMENT PLAN Deputations To Council A deputation from Tokoroa residents waited on the Matamata County Council with the object of placing a number of matters before the council, most of which were •bound up with the town plan of the urban area. Members were Messrs. Chambers and Petherick (Forest Products), Dunlop, Hamilton and Kendall (•School Committee) and Dunlop and Morcom (co-operative store). Also attending he meeting was Mr. J. Cox, secretary of the Town Planning Board, of Wellington. Mr. Kendall said that the school roll was now 178 and with 13 more children they would be entitled l to two rooms. The roll had grown from 151 to 178 in a few months, and the position was that there were 50 to 60 children in one room, with children sitting on the floor. They asked that the addition to the school building be approved. The engineer read correspondence with the Education Board regarding the position as it affected the town plan. The main point of which was that any main erection of buildings would have to be discussed from the a ! bove angle, and that temporary buildings might be used in the meantime. The engineer added that the gravity of the position was realised, and it might be that a temporary building, which could be used later as a kndergarten, would provide a solution. Mr. Kendall stated that the bus routes of Putaruru and 1 Tokoroa did not clash. Mr Hamilton' remarked that when winter came on about 30 children would have to be sent home. The question of fire was also dealt with, the Clerk reading correspondence relating to provision of plant for fire-fighting and the etsabtishment of a brigade at Tokoroa. The equipment, from stores accumulated during the war emergency period, would be made available by the department because the protection of forests was a national economic measure. The engineer: It is a pity they do- not also view the roads from that point of view. Mr., Petherick stated that in the meantime Mr. Walsh had offered to house the equipment. Mr. Cox commented that fire stations in residential areas had created “something of a blow,” but from the town planning point of view such a station, should be in a strategic situation and ' one from which the brigade could make a good getaway. Thus <a , site •on a good through road' was advisable. Mr. Cox added that temporary buildings were not looked uppn with favour. Temporary buildings- in Wellington' erected in . 1914 were still being used. Mr. Petherick asked about preliminary expenses, and Cr. Dunham stated the matter could be discussed by the council.

The chairman pointed out at thisjunoture that in the main essential of the Tokoroa town plan, the key to the whole position, was the business area. The light industrial area, would take care of itself, and theresidential area was going ahead, but until someone came forward and. said “here are sections you can put your business here,” the door could not 'be unlocked. That was the. key to the whole position. Replying to Mr. Petherick, the clerk stated that the cost of maintaining the •brigade could be met from three sources—locally raised funds, a grant from the council and a grant from the Government. The chairman remarked that he did not think there would be any difficulty regarding preliminary expenses, such as the freight on the new gear, the total of which was estimated by Mr Petherick at £25. The school position was grave, but. the whole matter would be gone into. Mr. Cox said the question of the school was a difficult one. He had discussed the matter with the Education Board in Wellington, which! in turn had discussed the matter with the Education Board in Auckland. The crux of the position was to estimate the future growth of Tokoroa. It might mean the establishment of two schools. At present the school site was so faraway from the residential area. litter in the meeting the council went into committee to hear detailed comment on the urban plan for Tokoroa by Mr. Cox. On resuming in open meeting, on the motion of Crs. G. C. Dunham and G. H. Verity, it was decided that the plan be approved as front May 20 for submission, to the Town Planning Board fcr their authority to advertise it for any abjections. It was further decided to advise the Auckland Education Board that the erection of two further classrooms could now be proceeded' with. The sulbdivisional plan asked for by the organisers of the co-opera-tive store was also approved.