New Lynn Residents Oppose Pottery Works

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 7

New Lynn Residents Oppose Pottery Works

PETITIONS TO COUNCIL PUBLIC INQUIRY LIKELY Proposals to erect a flower-pot and roof-tile factory on the Great North Road within the Borough of New Lynn have incensed many of the residents of Auckland’s new borough, who fear that a residential area will be despoiled by in- • dustrial enterprise. The objectors furthered their protest before the New Lynn Borough Council last evening. On the first subdivision over the j YYhau Bridge, on the left-hand side j of the Great North Road entering i New Lynn Borough, work has begun ■ on a site which is intended for a j flower-pot works and roof-tile factory. ! Messrs. Crum Brothers, who are i shortly to register a company for this purpose, received a provisional build- j ing permit for the factory, but pro- j ceedings have been hampered oy the j protests of residents, who fear that the factory section is to be excavated for a clay pit for brickmaking. A petition containing the names of New Lynn residents was presented to the council last evening by a deputation of about ten people. Mr. C. E. IT. Putt assured the council that the petition had not been in- ! spired by any ill feeling; nor was it desired to overlook justifiable appre- j ciation of what Mr. Crum had done ; for the district. Moreover, it was not desired to crush out any new* industry —rather the contrary—and the sole desire of the petitioners was to see it removed from the present to its correct position—a site closer to the railways. He, on behalf of the petitioners, asked that the council, in its zoning proposals for the future, should consider this aspect. He did not believe New Lynn would become an aristocratic residential suburb, but he anticipated a healthy and peaceful population of the comfortable, middleclass. He did not wish to see such : a potential residential area defiled by unsightly buildings. An industrial j area had already been established , close to the railway. LEGAL VIEWPOINT Mr. Chas. M. Goldstone quoted legal ■ advice, which determined that as ! ratepayers the petitioners had no ; standing, but under Section 34 of the , Town Planning Act, a local body could, even pending the adoption of a town , plan, prohibit the erection of any I building which, in the local body’s j opinion, did not conform to recog- i nised principles of town planning, i Moreover, the Director of Town Planning had stated in a letter that the usual procedure in a case such as this was to have a local public inquiry, at which objections could be heard. Mr. Goldstone considered that a secret ballot of the people would secure 90 per cent, of votes against the proposal. * Mr Crum had refused to give an undertaking not to prosf>ect for clay on the land; and refused similarly to refrain from making bricks at the new factory. On the contrary, one of the Crum brothers had stated to Mr. Goldstone in the street that the clay was to be secured from the bank oil the factory site. A provisional building permit had been granted by the boaro, out he, Mr. Goldstone, understood that plans had not been deposited with the application for the permit. Previous < discussions of the council had been I taken in committee, but the ratepay- [ ers felt the time had come for frank j disclosure of all the information. He , had the assurance of an insurance manager in the city that if the factory were erected his company -would reconsider all its risks in New Lynn. WOULD ENHANCE VALUES Mr. Crum, sen., produced a letter from Mr. Stanton, City solicitor, to the effect that Crum Brothers were entitled to obtain a permit no matter whatever the neighbours thought, so long as civil rights were not abused. His belief was that property values in New Lynn would be enhanced rather than depleted. The factory would possibly employ from 50 to 100 men if business progressed. The site proposed was very close to the alternative site, which was really only across the road. “We do not want to have to fight on this question,” Mr. Crum said, “but we feel we are en- ■ titled to go ahead.” I After a long discussion in commitj tee, the council advised the deputaI lion leaders to refer their protests again to the Town Planning Board, and the council agreed to endorse the letter. The result of such a document it is anticipated will be a local public inquiry.