LEVIN'S BRIGHT FUTURE

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1946, Page 4

LEVIN'S BRIGHT FUTURE

MANY CHANGES IMMINENT ^ MAYOR GIYES PROSPECTS . "Situated as the Borough of Levin - - is, in the nchesi; and most favoured. ojjod ixi a p«,rucuiany favoured country, it is oovious that prospenty and'good conditions must prevail amongsc those carrying on xaxmxng axxu uaier occupauons an the districts surrounding the town, and as a resulc the business comxiiuxuoy otxicxiLs proporcionateiy,"- ... sam tne jVIayor (lylr. H. B. Burae- «•' , kin), when asked by a "Chronicie" Ls i representative to give a xew r axoagnts^on the future of Levin. t/: -uxxi-k:^ some oi tne towns of this district, Levin is situated right on the main railway from Wellington to Palmerston Nortn, and has . - not to contend with the difficulties - • that are caused by .a transport •; proolem to the. rail ,from thetown proper," ±lis Vvorship continued. "Wnen a prominent governnxent orncrai was asxed recently wnich of tne smaller towns of the iNorcn isiand he regcrdea as having , one greauest amount of potential . growtn, ne, without hesitation, answered -Levin.' rne omy tmng • wnich is holdmg back the growth • wnich must come this town in the near future is the difliculty of procurmg oundmg materials, and the incidental pruolems arising therefrom. From e^iq airies received, another ten shops could be let anixieaiateiy 11 tney were available, and it is known tnat the Housing xjepartinenc rias pians for buildingthe pest part of 100 State houses * here as soon as sufficient materials ana laoour. are available. A large area has been set aside, including oWu rcserves, lor garaens and children's play area, which will, in the iiecu- iuuuxe, oecome a model subuivision oetween Winchester Street and CaniDridge Street. "Whether it has been the result of the chan-ge over from the rating of -, capitai to ummprovea vaiue or not, the iact remains that a iarge nunioer of sub-divisions have been sub- 4 mitted.for approval within the last iew months, ahd from present ! indications there will be over 100 sections in good localities available xor seiection xor private building in che near future. Careful watch must De kepc to see that these subdivisions comply with proper reeionai nlanning nrinciples.

"Many people who have reached the retiring age have come to Levin over recent years, and while this is ali to the good, wnat is most needed here is xor the town to develop industrially, so that when the boys • axid gins oi the town require to find positions, they will not have to go elsewhere, and here again town piannmg principles must be applled to see that these industries are deveioped in properly selected areas. "A further development which • ,i;: may reasonably be expected within the nexG few years is the change of the venue of the stock presentlyx,oid at tne Jonnsonviiie saieyaras to this district, as it must happen sometime tainy soon, as the land presentiy occupied by the Johnsonville saleyards will be required for | .lousing and closer settlement, in ! which case Levin will then probably be the centre of the stock saies for the southlwestern part of the North island. it aiready nas the 4ifth ilargest abattoir in New Zealand. - I "Another matter which must jclaim very serious attention in the 'immediate future is the need to ! provide for the inevitable re- ! quirements of Levin in the j direction of air travel and air I transport. Almost immediately jadjacent to the southern boundary j of the borough ' is the old , flying j field, which did duty during the iperiod that the Air Force had its | training station at Weraroa, and it is to be hoped that the opportun- .

j ity will be grasped to keep this area j available so that as people oecome more air minded, and air transport takes the place which it inevitably (must in the community, the facilities will be available close handy to the town. "From a departmental point of view it has long been realised that the present facilities of the Levin Post Office are totally inadequate co handie the large volume of business which passes through this office. ai&d it is good to know that the plaraf have been approved for, a new post office, which it is hoped will be erected in the comparatively near future. This will fill a longfelt want in the community. xi wouid seem, therefore," concluded Mr. Burdekin, "that the '.tage is now set, as soon as normal conditions obtain, for this town to double itself in size within the next few years."