TO PREVENT OVERCROWDING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 200, 3 May 1912, Page 2

TO PREVENT OVERCROWDING

NEW PLYMOUTH'S POSITION. WHAT THE MAYOR, PROPOSES. What in the ordinary course of events should prove to be a live subject of debate will be introduced to New Plymouth borough councillors before the year is out by the Mayor, Mr. G. W. Browne. A News reporter brought under His Worship's notice the following paragraph which appeared in the town clerk's annual report:— "It may be thought that in a town the size of New Plymouth there would be no necessity to take steps for the prevention of overcrowding and the growth of slum areas, but in view of the fact that in a recent sub-division for residential purposes of an estate within the borough some of the sections are shown of a less area than one-tenth of an acre, and that some of the railway subdivisions in Molesworth street for sale as residential lots are less than onesixteenth of an acre each, it-will be seen that the matter requires immediate attention."

On being asked what he proposed to do in the matter, Mr. Browne replied that, personally, he had in mind the adoption of by-laws governing frontage aTeas somewhat on the lines of those in vogue in Auckland. To this end he had written away to that city for full particulars. Further questioned, Mr. Browne stated that, speaking off-hand, he thought a minimum frontage of say 30 feet would accommodate the needs of New Plymouth. In some cities in New Zealand a lot of estates were being cut up into sections of 20 feet frontage, on which semi-detached cottages were being erected. Under these conditions tenants were unduly cramped, and, owing to one narrow right-of-way having to serve two cottages, they had little or no privacy. It was to guard against this practice being adopted in New Plymouth that he was anxious to bring the by-laws bearing upon the matter up-to-date. So far, he understood that only one building j of this description was in the town, but! in his opinion prevention was better j than cure. j

In many towns the authorities consider that where building areas are plentiful ipven a minimum of 30 feet - does not allow a tenant much room for the exercise of his lungs or his gardening propensities either, for that matter, and bearing this in mind the pressman asked the Mayor if, on second thoughts, ho did not think that a frontage of that siae would be on the small side for New Plymouth. Mr. Browne agreed, remarking that perhaps a 36 feet frontage would be nearer the mark.

If the experience of other boroughs may be talwn as a criterion it is not improbable that when it comes to finally deciding the point, the council will find that, as in the case of many other reforms throughout the world, it has tackled a highly contentious matter.