DECENTRALISATION

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1947, Page 4

DECENTRALISATION

| Has Leviit An Iadustrial Future | Was Levin a suitable town for decentralised industry, arid 'if so !was it desirabie to encourage factories to build here. These were questions put to members of the Junior Chamber of ' Commerce when an Open • f orum was conducted, following the usual fortnightly tea in Levin last^week. v Introducing the subject, Mr. R. A. Frederikson maintained that everything . should be done to attract industry to Levin, He deplored the fact that some factories had recently commenced activities in Otaki and Foxton, ;and were running buses. from Levin to these tdwns. Something , should be. done, he. continued, to bring factories to Levin. Admittedly the factories concerned were utilising old buildings meanwhile. Levin was handicapped in that it had no such buildings available, and it was facing a grave diffieulty in a'ccommodating the youth of the town in employment, with the result that they were attracted elsewhere. The progress qf Levin was 'retarded by the fact that so, "many people came to it to retire. The young men were leaving, and* the old eoming to it for ' res.t were not prepared to take an active part in pushing the town along. Levin had an excellent climate, was well situated and close to, the city of Palmerston North. Reasonable social amenities were provided. It was a shame that so many of fts- children were leaving ; sehool and a desirabie town to seek employment elsewhere. The only way to prevent this was by the encouragement of industry to i the town, he maintained. An organisation such as the Junior lChamber of Commerce should take up the problem and contact firms. which were considering decentralisation in order to find out their requirements and give details of the accommodation and facilities in the town. Large Industry Needed Factories established in Levin would be a benefit to the town generally, continued Mr. Frederikson. The town was growing daily, but there was no large industry behind it. The people were living on the land. It had been said that no labour was available to completely stafl such factories, but on that point he did not agree. "If attractive factories are built :here the labour will qome to it, but the factories must come flrst." Though there was a noticeable inerease in the number of small indus.tries, Levin was growing more of a residential town. He was not eastlng any refiection on the Levin Borough Couneil, as he was sure it too was alive to the need for industry here, but he felt, that some " organisation •should take up the problem and assist the couneil in an endeaviour to attract' factories. He stated that the Department of Industries and Commerce had been contaeted and Levin's name added to other towns on the list for the provision of possible sites for decentralised industry, but the : department would not make names of firms available. It was therefore up to an organisation to contact such firms. Quoting examples of the industries Levin was losing, he mentioned a recent request to the ;Horowhenua Power Board for the ^provision of electricity to a factory which would be coyermg an area of six to seven acres, and would require power extension to some 50 hou&es, • Other Opinions Considerable atseussion follawed Mr. Frederikson's remarks. The

majority were firmly behind the suggestions, a small minority was against any attempt at bringing •factories to the tqwn, while others, , .though they agreed with the sug- ' g'estions, - wamed against the wholesale erection of such buildings without a proper town planning scheme being flrst, introdueed and strictly , maintained. The ability of Levin to provide ade- : quate facilities for industry was also questioned, drainage, water and power being particularly men- ! tioned. The town should not place too imuch dependence on one partieular industry, said one memher It gave the youth of the town a limited class of work. Building conetruction difficulties and housing were other points stressed. Levin had no need to worry while there were factories in nearby towns, said one , member when speaking against the proposal. "Why have unsightly factories here when we can benefit from those in other nearby cen;tres"? This town was prineipally a farming district and had built up a reputation as such, said another. "We don't want this district turned into another Hutt Valley. We have a place in the sun as a rich farming' area." ' The decision would have to be one way °r another. Was the district to be pastoral or industrial? Unless the birthrate rose .considerably he doubted if Levin could flnd sufficient labour for such a .scheme. What was wanted in Levin was not a "series of smokestacks." Town Planning Scheme It was not solely .a question of factories, said Mr. H. B. Burdekin. Industry was necessary by ali means, but it had to take its rigfltful place i*A the organised plannmg of the town. Building should be fostered in . all avenues so that every section of the town went forward simultaneously. The town was still young and it would, ' he considered, be very unwise to set big factories here, It was not rational for this county ,to become

a second Hutt Valley. Farming was just as important and employed a considerable number of men. Planning was essential and in this respect- he intimated that a town planning scheme would shortly be released. Mr. Burdekin advocated the encouragement of small industries on as wide a field as possible. "Don't try for one big industry or regiment employment down to one or two occupations," he continued. In regard to building, he stated that he had recently been in touch with the Minister of Reha•bilitationr Mr, Skiriner, who had , stated definitely that it would be four years at least before the present building material famine was improved, and the best part of 10 years before hormality was reached. When answering his critics, Mr. Frederikson said the Power Board was alive to the electricity require- * ments in the district. When the 24-hour continual service resumed, he promised that there would be ample supply available to any factories contemplating establishment in the town. in regard to, drainage and water supply, he pointed out that until the drainage. scheme was under way, factories sited at Ohau would still be an asset to Levin. He agreed with the warning in regard to dependence on one industry,. and when commenting on whether Levin should be a pastoral or industrial area, maintained that there was plenty of room for both. He heartily endorsed the suggestion that there should be a town planning scheme in existence, but said the couneil "Should be careful in its application so as not to drive out industries that otherwise would have come here.