THE CIVIC SQUARE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 79, 24 June 1927, Page 7

THE CIVIC SQUARE

Councillor A. J. Enirican’s Plea for Smaller Allotments

ONLY CAPITALISTS NEED APPLY

THE conviction that the leasehold sections, as set out on the provisional plan, were too large, was voiced by A. J. Entrican when the City Council last night discussed the proposals for the utilisation of the Civic Square In a report on the subject the Parks Committee recommended that the block at the corner of Queen and Wellesley Streets be leased at once in sections with a frontage of 33 feet, on a 66-years tenure.

r PHE large sections, Cr. Eentrican held, would bar all but large syndicates, or individuals possessing ample capital, from acquiring the leases. He suggested that the committee should consider reducing the size of the sections. Cr. G. Ashley said the terms of the leases would not induce the right type of men to apply lor sections. Cr. J. A, C. Allum: If you reduce the frontage you reduce the height of the buildings. Land of this character can only be taken up by people with considerable capital. The only danger I see in the terms of the leases is that toward the end of the term the buildings may get in a dowdy condition, as they have done in other parts of the city. “Such sites are not at all sites for small people. Small people can-

not pay the rents for such valuable properties," said Cr. S. I. Crookes. Moreover, he pointed out that small sections would not invite the desired architectural standards. They wanted to induce the construction, on the block, of buildings that would be ornamental to the main street of the city In making the term 66 years, the committee had gone to the limit allowed by law. Cr. L. A. Eadie expressed his eagerness to see the leases offered to the public. Therefore he would support the committee’s proposal. Cr. Ellen Melville: It was never contemplated that small owners should build individual shops on the block. The council did not endorse Cr. Entrican’s suggestion, and the committee’s proposals were forthwith adopted.