HOUSES MEANWHILE, HOCKEY LATER

Chronicle (Levin), 30 July 1946, Page 8

HOUSES MEANWHILE, HOCKEY LATER

-Press AssociatioT'

COMPROMISE ENDS AUCKLAND PROBLEM

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, July 29. A compromise solution to the con troversy over tlie future of Canij Oranje, Remuera, was put forwari todav liv Mr. C. E. Price, district archi tect of tlie Public Works Department, and pending consideratiou ot the tecli nieal details tomorrow morning and I iinal decision of the Auckland Hocke\ | Association, it now appears that this j pla.ii will become tlie basis of an agree ment satisfactory ' to all parties. ^ li involves tlie eonversion of the buildings on tlieir present site with tlie provision I for tlieir removal on a chain systeni rc another site where they will be con verted to permanent housing. I.aidei this plan Tlolison Park will be vacatei; j with i n 18 moiifhs. } Representatives of tlie Returned Ser Ivices' Association and Auckland j Hoekey Association and a number of ; Government department al officers, met | in conference tliis moriiing to continuc tlie discussions begun on Saturday. 1 The Prime Arinister said tliat lie had ' nothing to add to wdiat lie had said on that occasion. Ile believed the build ings at Camp Oranje would be required onlv for two years and he t'elt they should remain tliere for that period. The conference adjourned, the PrinnMinister meeting the Alayor and mein bers of the city council at noon in the Mavor's chambers. Mr. Allum insisted

upon the discussion taking place in private and members of the R.S.A. and Hoekey Association waited outside m the corridor for three-quarters of an hour unt.il called in. Mr. Fraser then announced that little further progresihad been niade. The city council wished to reniove tlie buildings im niediately to another site which would take about four and a-half inonths. However, another scheme had been advanced by Mr. Price. This was to con vert most of the buildings to housing units where they stood so that people could be put in almost iiiimediately. -A Ftart would simnltaneously be made with tlie demolition of oue of the iiiAin buildings and would be used to re-erec) permanent. housing on another site. Th». families Yrom on.ef p.f -thje bvtydiugs af Cainp 'dfanje' woyild- tlj.^n lie.'^fiifjied: int.- > permanent hoijsp4 and iTrft prenii Ses.they vacated woiild be demolished fo; similar treatinent. Thus eventually alL the buildings would lie cleared and a maxiiuum number of permanent units nrovided. It was estimated this scheme

would take IS months. Vhile the people were housed at Camp Oranje separate kitclien and other facilities would do away with any large. scale communal aspect and the grounds would ihe progressively restored to tlie Hoekey Association. When lie visited the camp in tio afternoon with representatives of tlie interested parties, Mr. Fraser said this was the scheme tliat appealed to him because permanent housing grew naturally out of it. Tliere was the danger of growing top heavy with transit housing. Replying to the Prime Minister, Mr S. G-. White, president of the exeeutive committee of the Hockev Association, said liis committee was holding a special meeting on Wednesday night to con sider the matter and Mr. Price 's plan would be discussed. {My association would accept this compromise proposal," said Mr. A. P. Postlewaite, president of the Auckland R.S.A. "It sounds most reasouable for all parties and I have no doubt, Mr Fraser, tliis possibility of solution has been reached through your adjudieation. We should like to thank you.'' Mr. C. J.. M. Clarlt, officer of the city council, who was present, said the housing committee desired only to lielp. Although tliere were drawbacks to Mr. Price 's plan, it had considerable merits. Mr. Fraser thanked Mr. Clarlc for the .cooperative attitude of himself and the council. "We want to thank you for these negotiations, " said Mr. White, before the Prime Minister left. "As tlie result of them mv association feels that some result satisfactory to all will be aehieved. It appears now to be dependent only on teehnical details to be decided tomorrow. Wliat my association feared was permanency of occupation."