Residents Oppose Factory Additions

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 402, 10 July 1928, Page 16

Residents Oppose Factory Additions

MOUNT EDEN’S TROUBLES

DEPUTATION COMPLAINS TO COUNCIL Over the proposals to make additions to a factory in Balmoral Road, the Mount Eden Borough Council residents in the locality and the company concerned hold serious views. A large deputation to the council last evening told of noise from machinery, obnoxious fumes, the smoke and soot nuisances, flaunting of the principles of town-planning, and spoilt appearance as reasons for a complaint against factory construction. The deputation was made up of residents of Balmoral Road, Dexter, Tenterden and Newburn Avenues and the extension of the premises of a company known as New Zealand Wallboards, Ltd., was regarded seriously. Several speakers voiced the residents’ complaints. “The size of this deputation shows the seriousness of the complaints,” remarked Cr. F. Morris, who introduced it. Mr. B. G. Fraser, who led the deputation, said that an original building some three or four years ago was unobtrusive. “THEN OUR TROUBLES BEGAN” “When Wallboards, Ltd., took possession, our troubles began,” he said. “Smoke from the chimney stacks is a menace to health, and the machinery noise is a nuisance. The factory has worked on Sundays and even on Anzac Day. The area is regarded as residential, and additions to the factory are opposed. We ask that the building be shifted to a factory area. If this is not possible, council supervision should be used and additions stopped.” “The question is so serious,” said Miss L. Stone, another resident, “that if the council does not meet us, an appeal will be made to the Supreme Court. “The area is purely residential. The principles of town-planning have been ignored, and the trouble will probably spread.” Laughter greeted the assertion of another deputation member that there were illustrations present of health affected by the smoke and fume nuisance. “Is there any gentleman in the council who would like to have a brewery next to his home?” queried the speaker. FACETIOUS COMMENT “Well, it has a different smell,” answered a councillor facetiously. Cr. Morris said he v/aji not aware that a building was going up until two or three weeks after work began. “It was a bombshell,” he said. “The smoke nuisance is there, and the coun cil made a mistake in granting the permit.” “The company employs 25 men, drawn from the unemployed,” said Mr. Hitchin, a company director, who explained the firm’s intention. “Nothing was heard of any nuisance until the extensions were begun. We did employ men on Sundays some time ago when we were busy, but such has not been the_case lately.” Cr. W. Lange said he thought

the subject of factory and shopping areas had been fixed. Mr. J. G. Moodie, building inspector, made a report on the position, and a letter from the company was read stating that it was intended to dismantle the furnaces. An inspection of the premises would be welcomed. COUNCIL INSPECTION The council decided to make an inspection of the factory for further report, and deputation representatives are to be present. Nothing definite as to the granting of the original building permit was forthcoming in response to a query from a deputation member.