EDGECUMBE THEATRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 44, 28 January 1944, Page 5

EDGECUMBE THEATRE

QUESTION OF CONSTRUCTION

WAWING OF BY-LAW

Once again at the last meeting of the Whaaktane County Council Cr Smith made am eloquent appeal for the waiving of the brick area by-laws until after the war in order to allow the reconstruction of the Edgecum.be picture theatre, by Mr and Mrs Holdten, the owners of the original building which was •destroyed' by fire.

AVhat effect, lie asked, were these very stringent by-laws going to

have on future generations. If they were going to be strictly enforced to the letter they would prevent any but the larger chain or ■ merchant stores from building. It was necessary for any town to crawl be-i fore it could walk and the 1 enforcement of the by-laws was going ±o hold, back the development of Edgecuinbe. The chairman: We've got to have them to ensure, a decent class, of building going lip. Cr Smith: But we've got to start in a small way first. Whakatane grew that way. The chairman: Would you say the by-laws were a bar to progress ? Cr Smith: Yes, because it will only be the big stores Ihi e. Woolworths and the like which will, be able to build. Cr Smith said he was certain that the position had now reached a stage where the whole district suffered as a l-csuit of the council's stand. There was the personal, point of view too. Mr and Mrs Hoidc.n, who had practically pioneered the. town, felt that a very deep injus-. tice had been done them. He. read exartcts of a letter from tlvem in which it was stated that they felt most discouraged and having lost all heart in the place would like to dispose of all their properties and leave. Cr Smith with Cr Hunter as seconder then gave notice of motion to the effect that the 'Brick Area' bylaws now in force should be suspended throughout the. county until after the Avar. The whole question will therefore be fully detailed at the February meeting.