TOWN PLANNING.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18888, 31 December 1926, Page 16

TOWN PLANNING.

EFFECTS OF NEW ACT,

OPERATIVE TO-MORROW.

Consideration will be given shortly to the effects of the Town Planning Act, which conies into operation tomorrow, by a new committeo appointed by tho City Council at its last meeting to deul with sub-divisions and town planning. In un explanatory memorandum attached to the Bill by the Hon. Mr Bollard, who had charge of it in the Lower House, it was stated: — "The general purpose of a town planning scheme is expressed in the Bill to be the development of the city or borough to which it relates, so as most effectively to promote its healthfulness, amenity, convenience, and advancement. A scheme may be likened to the plans and specifications of an undertaking. Tho central provision of tho Bill is contained in Clause 13, which imposes an obligation on the council of every city, and of every borough having a population of 1000 and upwards, to prepare a town planning scheme for its district. A period of three years is allowed within which this work is required to be completed. When a scheme has been provisionally npproved*bv the Town Planning Board, the responsible local authority is required to publicly notify the name, and to give opportunities for the making and hearing of objection*. Objections nre tn be finally determined by tho Town Planning Board When all objections have been heard and determined, and tho scheme has been consequently amended, it is to bo finallv approved bv the Town Planning Board. Duty of Local Bodies. "So soon as a scheme has been finally approved, it becomes the duty of tho council of the city or borough to which the scheme relates to give effect to itSo far as the scheme concerns new works, they must be in conformity therewith. With respect to areas that hare been already built upon, no reconstruction works can bo carried out that would tend to delay the ultimate. bringing of all works in the district into conformity with the approved scheme. The rigidity of this principle, however, is somewhat relaxed by allowing to the Town Planning Board a discretionary power to make concessions in special cases. The provisions a* to borough councils extend to town boards in whose district there is • population of 1000 and upwards and if tha Board is in any case of opinion that a borough with' a population of less than 1000 should prepare a plan, the compulsory provisions of the Act may be extended to that borough by Oroer-in-Council; and, without compulsion, every borough council or town board has authority, if it thinks fit, to prepare a scheme for its district. A town planning scheme may provide for street* of less width than what is required by the Municipal Corporations Act. In this connexion it is expected that a town planning scheme will provide for main thoroughfares and subsidiary thoroughfares; also that certain areas will be wholly residential, and some will be wholly for business purposes. This arrangement will permit of a classification of street widths having regard to. the extent and nature of the traffic they will be required to carry.

"County Ooundl'3 Objections. "The Bill also makes provision for what are knows as regional planning i aohemes for rural areas, and 'whereby county councils may be required, pursuant to Order-in-Council, to co-operate with districta under their jurisdiction, or for defined portions of those districts, a modified scheme, known in the Bill as a N "regional planning scheme." Apart from this the Bin has no compulsive application to county councils. The carrying out of the provisions of a town planning scheme is declared to be a Kblic work within the meaning of the cal Bodies Act, thus conferring on the local authorities concerned the necessary power, in compliance with the terms of that Act, to obtain the funds required for the purpose. "The ultimate-cost of giving effect to the provisions of a scheme will be reduced by the provisions for betterment. By virtue, of these provisions landowners are required to pay to the local authority one-half of any increase in the value of their property, that, in the opinion of the Valuer-General, is due to the preparation or operation of a town planning scheme." When the Act was passed it provided for the ascertaining of any betterment increase by a Compensation Court, under the Publio Works Act, 1908. Criticism of Measure. In a frank criticism of the legislation the "New Zealand Surveyor" referred to the Act recently in the following terms: — "The Bill has become an Act, and a Town Planner, Mr It. B. Hammond, has been appointed under it and is at work. New Zealand ias put a foot forward— with a good deal of splash I "Personally we are glad that it was passed and not delayed or postponed. This is not to say that it is a perfect Act or without defects which seem to u» serious, but probably our members generally do not realise the difficulties and dangers to be overcome in getting a new class of legislation on to the Statute Book. Once there, it can be •mended, and, after some years of actual experience, can be consolidated and re-enacted. Jt is useless waiting to perfect a Bill before passing it. The most perfect measure and most rieeded reform does not pass on account of ita perfection nor of its but is dependent only on political considerations of party, and the opportune moment roust be seized to get it through, and then, as actual experience shows its defects, they must be remedied from time to time. So all our great legislation has grown, and, personally, we fee} that that reason greatly influenced its rapid passing. "What is to happen now is on the lap of the gods. All is new; there is no- machinery existing, no previous practice or experience which will amount to very much in the new relation* set up between Board and local bodies.

"For the administration of any Act a machinery of officials must be set up, and no doubt as far as possible existing officials will be used, but we, ourselves, with a long official training and with considerable experience in tho official aide of town planning as it has hitherto been conducted, do look forward with great interest to the outcome of the new work now before tho Board and the Town Planner. Quite a minority of the Board will have had training in the rigorous systemisation of work, which alone enables safe and impartial administration, and avoids pitfalls and "favouritism" of irregular and differential treatment. Much wisdom, patience, and serenity of judgment is required to balance) the conflicting claims of the community and of owners. Long training in public administration goes far to educate in a selfless consideration of problems, but, in "the new Board, these qualities seem lilrely to be only in a raw and untrained state for some time to come, and we must look forward to a period of conflict before working arrangements are perfected. Let us, as an Institute, however, remember that it will be constructive and courteous criticism flint is required: thnt the Board and officials are not- ipso facto I fools, but are as interested and enthnsi-1 aatjo in making a eucoesa of the new J advance in social legislation as we are; J

and that, being but human, merely destructive criticism and denunciation simply antagonises them and destroys the weight of what may really be valuahle suggestions from the same source. Wo have already seen the note of this feeling in the Prime Minister's reply to published comments on the Bill.''

"An Excellent Beginning." "It is my firm impression that the Art is an excellent beginning," said .Mr S. Hurst Seagcr, president of the N.Z. Institute of Architects, when a reporter enquired his views regarding the legislation. "Some improvements may he < necessary later on, but it is a good, sound Act, and it will Ik> of the greatest possible benefit to the present generation and to posterity. If it was administered sympathetic-all/, he remarked, and the section of the public who supposed that hardships might result from its becoming law, disabused their minds of this mistaken idea, nothing but benefit could accrue. There had l>een incredible waste through the haphazard way in which the towns had k-en built up. Go-as-yfcu-please methods should be abolished before further harm was done. The Act would not be a hindrance in any way, and the betterment provisions were not drastic, as a l>etterment could not arise until a town planning scheme was prepared and passed by tho Town Planning Board. Any objections by property-owners to the latter's actions would be heard. "What will be the first effects of the Act in Christehureh," the reporter asked. "We must all get to work and prepare a town planning scheme," said Mr Hurst Seager. "This must be done by our local bodies within three years. Their work must be strictly in accordance with the policy of the Board and Director of Town Planning, with whom close touch must be maintained." At the annual meeting of the Wellington Branch of the N.Z. Institute of Architects, tho chairman (Mr Stanley M. Fearn) expressed pleasure at the passing of the Town Planning Act. The advent of the Bill would mean that tho architects of New Zealand would be called upon to associate themselves with its provisions. The measure had been sought.for a long time, and now that it had materialised it behoved members of the nrofession to help along the good work.

"A Very Necessary Act." "It is a very necessary Act," was the comment of Mr A. K. Galbraith, City Engineer, '"ihe mere tact that similar legislation has been adopted in England, where it is compulsory for every town with 20,0U0 inhabitants or over to promote a scheme, shows how necessary it is considered there. Our Act is based on the English legislation." A large number of towns with less than 20,000 peoplo were sending in schemes voluntarily. Ono of the first things necessary in Christen urch would bo a proper system of zoning and roading. The City would have its factory, industrial, offensive trades, dangerous trades, and residential areas. Close co-oneration with all the local bodies would.be necessary for the City Council, and ono of the first essentials would probably be an Advisory Board to consult all authorities. Up to the present, only a proportion of the nominees to the Town Planning Board have been appointed, but it is anticipated that the Government will, by Gazette notice, advise the public at an early date with regard to its full personnel. This will be as follows: — The Minister for Internal Affairs, who will ;be chairman; the Director of Town planning (Mr R. B. Hammond), a member appointed by the Institute of Civil Engineers, n member appointed by the Institute of Architects, a member appointed by the Institute of Surveyors, two members appointed by the executive of the Municipal Association, a member appointed by the executive of the Counties' Association the SurveyorGeneral,' the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, and the Government Architect. The only members so far appointed apart from the Government nominees are the two representatives of the executive of the Municipal Association.