QUEEN STREET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1943, Page 2

QUEEN STREET

PROPOSALS FOR WIDENING BOROUGH COUNCIL TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING. IMPORTANT TOWN PLANNING SCHEME. “It is the most important proposal that has ever been before 4 the council,” observed the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, at last night’s meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, when it was decided to hold a special meeting of the council on February 23 to consider proposals submitted by the Borough Engineer (Mr C. R. Mabson) for widening Queen Street twenty feet by setting the building alignment back ten feet on either side.

Mr. Mabson explained that if the town planning proposals were adopted, all buildings erected or restored in Queen Street in the future would be set back upon the new alignment. The widening would be done from the Renall Street intersection to the first bridge. Mr. Jordan urged councillors to give the proposals very careful consideration and said that he would not like to see any undue hurry in the matter. He suggested that a special meeting of the council should be held at which figures and facts could be given councillors and all aspects of the proposals could be discussed. The public would also be given the opportunity of considering the scheme. Mr. Mabson said he had thought that reconstruction of a permanent nature would not be possible until after the war. However, the Building Controller had made labour and materials available for two jobs to be done in Queen Street. The builders were ready to go ahead and if permission were granted by the council the buildings would be set on the present alignment. That was the reason for the matter being brought before the Council at short notice.

“The time could never be more opportune,” continued Mr. Mabson. He said there were many buildings damaged to a greater or lesser degree and those not damaged were required to be brought up to earthquake resistance standard. The proposal before the meeting affected 4000 feet of frontage, including both sides of Queen Street. Of the total frontage 2271 feet represented brick construction, 900 feet concrete construction, and 712 feet wooden construction. From those figures it would be seen that nearly 60 per cent, of the town frontage had to be rebuilt. If the proposals before the council were not adopted, the opportunity offered today would be lost for the next 50 years. From what he had been told, it appeared that the cost of carrying out such proposals rose in the ratio of five to one each twentyfive years. Mr. Mabson said he had no idea of the cost of compensation which j would be involved, but private nego-j tiation possibly could be arranged. The shifting of the alignment back meant that back yard space would be built on. The Treasury was offering money at favourable terms for carrying out such Work.