NAPIER EXPANSION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 8, 2 October 1937, Page 7

NAPIER EXPANSION

■ ■» ■ " ■ Suggestion of Advisory Committee MR K. McLEAY'S SCHEME The suggested formation Of a representative and advisory committee named the Napier Development League, to erobrace the development of Napier, Napier South, Port Ahuriri, Marewa and harbour endowment lands, was mooted by Mr K. MeLeay in an address to the annual meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce on Thursday. He stated that there was a big job ahead in the completion of the development of these areas, and suggested that if a committee on the lines of the Earthquake Reconstruction Committee were forrned, that support would be forthconung from the local bodies. t . "The earthquake • has provided us with better possibilities than ever for a greater expansion of our jtown," he stated, "and during the next fifty j years it will be interesting to watcll !rhis advancement. I should very mueh like to see a deeper inJterest taken by the citizens towards developing a greater civic pride^ for, as the town levelops, so it is essential that euch ".evelopment carry with it beauty, and ;'j conBtructed on definite lines. "Napier, as it is with its Marina "arade and its climate, has a reputation i'or its beaujty, and there is no reason -viiy we should not aspire towards something better as we expand. While abroad I was very impressed with the civic pride whieh has been cultivated by the citizens of Yaneouver, and we could very well emulate their efforts in the development of beauty. Towards this purpo®e, therefore, I would like lo see formulated a representative and advisory committee under such name as 'The Napier Development League.' The Napier Thinty Thousand Club has done very creditable work in the development of the Marino Parade, b(ut the' time is ripe for the merging of this club into something bigger with wider objectives, embracing Napier South, Poi# Ahuriri, Marewa, and other harbour en.dowment lands.

A Big Job Aliead. "When one views Napier from the present Taradale road approach, it becomea evident from the bareness of tlie land that there is a big job ahead to beautify this part where possible, by (the planting of suitable trees* My suggestion, therefore, is that an advisory committee should be set up, f ashioned on the lines or siailar to the Reconstruction Committee, which aided tbe Commissioners in reconstructing our town and services in 1931. I feel that if enthusiasm is displayed, and the right type of people he appointed, (the sym-patheti-e eo-operation of our local bodies, the Napier Harbour Board and the Napier Borough Council, would be forth: coming. "Althougk this work does not come directly under the activities of our chamber, I hold that we should be doing a good serviee by taking the initiative towards bringing into being such an organisation. If nothing be done in this direction, I f ear- a policy of 4 drif t along' will not get us what we, as citizens, with a love for our town, would desire to see accomplished." When questioned this morning regarding Mr McLeay's suggestion, a member of tko Thirty Thousand Club, Mr W. Harvey, stated that it was pleasing to hear the suggestion. He added that for the past six months the club had been considering means of widening its activities, and following several diecussions a move in this direction may be expected shortly.