TOWN PLANNING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2168, 5 June 1914, Page 9

TOWN PLANNING.

Sir,—The groat importance, of directing tho public mind to tliis question prompts mo to request spaco in • your columns to supplement your report of the recent meeting of the Greater Wellington Municipal Electors' Association. By some (Hon. H. D. Bell included) it is held that existing legislation provides all tho machinery necessary for iocal bodies to carry on town planning. Others, again, contend that such is not the case, and I wish to show that this view is the correct one. Town planning' is essentially the acting together of the controlling bodies, so as to fully dovetail tiicir respective operations into one general scheme, making for the fullest betterment of the city, present, and future. At present there is absolutely no statuto compelling even a consulta*tion or comparison in connection with public bodies' policies, and the State is also in; the position of acting independently. It is true that they do occasionally confer, hut usually on a matter of detail, rather than a question of policy. In any case, each has complete freedom of action, which, in my opinion, should be limited. In order to do this a board should be established, to which it is compulsory to refer newworks affecting the city. I fail to see why the State should, for instance, be in a position to decide tho sito for * new railway station without consulting

the City Council and Harbour Board, or that the Harbour Board should build a, wharf cither for goods or passeiigcrs without reference to the Hailwav Department and council. To establish a board that would override, in a peremptory way. tho work of these various bodies would cause both friction' and confusion. This was the class of board proposed in Mr. Fowlds' Bill of 1011. There is-, however, a happv medium, and I suggest it is to bo found in tho rough outlines of a Bill that I submitted to tho Municipal Electors' Association's meeting en Monday last. Briefly put, it provided for:— .1. A town planning board consisting ol tho Surveyor-General, three members representing the City Council, one tho Harbour Board, two elected directly by tho citizens; and two nominated by the Government to represent tho ltailways and Public Works Department: ■ . . Note—Mr. Fowlds' Bill provided for a board wholly nominated by.tho Government, which would.havo meant the domination of tho city by the Minister of the day. 2. All schemes shall bo submitted to tho board, which, after consideration, and conferences with the local authority concerned, shall havo power if it disapproves of such scheme, to call a public meeting of citizens to consider same. Should the meeting side with tie board, then the local authority shall amend its schemo accordingly. Should the mooting disagrcft with the board, then the whole question should be reforrod to a poll of citizens to finally decido the matter. In tho case of a State' Department, which would also bo compelled to ,submit its schomes to the board, any disagreement to be referred to a special town-plan-ning committee of Parliament. •-1 have quoted this in full to make clear that although tho board is largely of an advisory nature, still it has power

to refer its decisions to the people for :; .final .determination.-. . •-■ - -~. J' 3. The board to have power to initiate schemes, subject to the above procedure.- ...... ] I- Tho public shall'be notified of any : scheme, and opportunity given for hearing the objections of any citizen or local J body before adoption. ', 5. Local bodies on tho outskirts of a town-planning district shall, when likely to be affected by' any scheme, bo brought under the board's jurisdiction.— [ Note'.—Such a provision would enable the City Council to cite the Miramar Borough as a party to such a scheme as [ the proposed Jfilbirnie traffic tunnel, ! and adequately apportion tho liability, instead of as at present, having to delay this important work pending Miramar's pleasure. 6. Tho board to act as arbitrators in compensation' cases arising- out of any 1 such schemes. 7. It shall be voluntary on tho part of any city or., borough to petition the Governor to be declared a town-planning district. 8. The functions of tho board shall bo to consider and make recommendations upon any schemo dealing with tho following matters:—Tho laying out or tho closing of alteration of any street or. road. The laying out of any drainage or water supply scheme. The'laying out or erection of any railway, tramway, public lifts, wharf, dock, tunnel, bridge, viaduct, or public building. The settingapart or -laying-out of any recreation grounds or reserves. Tho reclamation or embankment of any land or any foreshore. Tho preservation of objects of historic interest or beauty. The defining of any residential and industrial area, and the building and other conditions relating thereto. The subdivision and laying out of dny land, whether by tho State, local authority, company, or private individual. Tho acquisition by purchase of any land or buildings for public purposes.' Tho sale or leasing of any public lands. In conclusion, I trust these, perhaps crude, ideas will lead to an awakening of the public interest in this question of vi,tal importance to tho welfare (both financially and otherwise) of our cities, that we, and those that come after us, may enjoy tho fullest possible comforts and.conveniences, and at a minimum cost. —I am, etc., A. LEIGH HUNT. Hataitai, June 3, 1914