BEAUTY AND UTILITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 737, 9 August 1929, Page 16

BEAUTY AND UTILITY

“AUCKLAND WATERFRONT DESPOILED” PROBLEMS FOR CHAMBER If consideration of artistic features will not infringe on the efforts of the Harbour Board in fulfilling its obligations in developing the port, the Chamber of Commerce would like to see attention paid to beautifying details. 'J’HE future of Hobson Bay and the treatment of the old dock site were questions discussed by the chamber yesterday afternoon. Mr. T. C. Webster was a strong advocate tor beautifying the waterfront. “The Harbour Board has, for the most part, despoiled what was a splendid and attractive waterfront,” Mr. Webster said. “Certainly, its appearance has by no means been improved. “There is no need for the board to be 100 per cent, utilitarian. Surely there is a sufficient extent of waterfront for use in utilitarian . development to allow some place for beautifying work. After all, beauty has a certain commercial value.” Mr. A. G. Lunn admitted that the Harbour Board has to carry out its obligations to develop the port, but he considered attention to beautifying should be advocated wherever possible. Explaining the beautifying scheme of town-planners in Auckland for the old dock site, the secretary, Dr. E. P. Neale, said that it had been suggested to set aside a third of the area for architectural treatment. The chamber passed a resolution recognising the board’s duty to provide the finest shipping facilities, but asking consideration of artistic features without prejudicing the board’s obligations. A communication from the Town Planning Association criticised the state of Hobson Bay, stating that there would be pollution if no remedy could be found. Several members feared the building of railway marshalling yards on the Point Resolution side, and a resolution was made supporting the idea of having a citizens’ committee to watch developments in Hobson Bay.