ADVANCE LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12059, 14 July 1917, Page 8

ADVANCE LYTTELTON.

MR F. G. NORTON'S SLOGAN. | UNIMPROVED RATING SOUGHT. Mr F. G. Norton, whoso recent remarks on the subject of church property at Lyttdton caused much discussion in city and borough, is pursuing his policy of. furthering tho interests of Lyttelton by securing reform in the rating system and th 0 establishment of industries. Mr Norton told a reporter yesterday that many of the houses in Lyttelton were far below the standard of oilier towns. These houses were a, relic of tho " good old times, when any sort of shanty was good enough to live in. Population was but there "ivas a great demand for houses, and, as soon as the foundations were laid for a new house tho owner received shoals of letters asking; whether it would be "to let." Comparatively few -houses had been built in Lyttelton lately because the land was locked 'ap. It was urgently necessary to introduce the system of rating on unimproved values to improve tho class of houses in the borough. Power was wanted to make landlords repair or pull down old buildings. It would also compel tho owners of vacant land to build. The Borough Council, Mr Norton added, had .some building sections, but did not make reasonable approaches to them. "Jacob's ladders'' should bocut up to theso properties instead of compelling tenants to go round half a mile of road. This system of getting to terrace houses should be encouraged and the roadways should be increased. Lyttelton had tho machinery for crushing stones, and was to obtain the means ■for\ delivering it cheaply at various points in the borough, and tho council would be in a far better position in regard to road-making than it had ever been. He hoped that things would be made much more attractive in the near future. Mr Norton, who is a member of the Borough pouncil and the Lyttelton Burgesses' Association, also intends to bring up the question of stimulating industries in the port. He remarked that there might be a woollen mill or a boot factory or other industries to keep tho yo'ang lads and girls in their own town. At present they all went to Christ--church, where they picked up their life companions, and they never returned to Lyttelton to settle down. Even tho adult working population of Lyttelton was forced to live out of the borough. The Harbour Board was reclaiming land, and possibly it could be utilised for factories or sheds. He was very pleased to., say that in the last two or tiiree days a company had bought a place in Lyttelton for the manufacture of sacks. Moi'o such industries would bo welcome Mr Norton hopes to see a poll carried on tho unimproved .rating system. Meanwhile Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., lias agreed to address a meeting on the subject.