TOWN PLANNING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3167, 18 August 1917, Page 12

TOWN PLANNING

THE COMING BILL

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER Members of town-planning associations met in Wellington yesterday, and after briefly .discussing preliminary matters waited on the Prime Minister respecting the drafting of a Town Planning Kill. At the preliminary meeting 'the associations were represented as follow:— Auckland, Mr. C. J. Parr, ill'., C.M.G.; Christchurch, Messrs. Kay, H. Hurst Seagar,. and Holland (Mayor of. C'liristcluirch); Dunedin, Hon. .1. 'J'. Paul; Tiniaru, Mr. C. G. Gray; Wanganui, Mr. Hone Gibbons; Napier, (Jouiitillor H. \V. Thompson; Invercargill, Mr. W. M. Page; Uaniaru, Mr. E. P. Lee, MJ\; Wellington, Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, Messrs. Leigh Hunt, C. E. Wheeler, and Harwell C'ooke. Messrs. J. Payne, M.1 , .. L. Fanning, E. C. Jack, a nit T. Ballinger also attended. . . The delegates wore welcomed to Wellington, by the Hon. .1. G. W. Aitken. Mr. Aitken remarked that the work Hiey were interested in was of great importance. Before the Government would fully realise the need for town planning the associations would have .'to press thenadvocacy. They must be united and press the Government to accede to their wishes. It was understood that a lown Planning Bill hrf. been prepared but it .was not known when it would be introduced. ilr. C. J. Parr, M.P. for Eden, was then elected to the chair. He, too, said it was necessary to show the Government a united front. . It was mentioned that Hie gathering was the outcome of the following resolution by the Wellington Association:— "That we convene a. Town-Planning Conference, consisting of delegates and leading enthusiasts, to meet in. Wellington early in August, for the purpose of urging the Minister to introduce- a townPlanning Bill into the House this session, and circulate it throughout tno country during the recess, with the object of passing it into law next session as an urgent measure, to ensure economy and efficiency during critical years to come." Mr. Parr thought no good would be accomplished until a town planning commissioner was appointed, and he said he was iii favour of fne establishment of advisory boards containing experts. Mr. S. H. Seagar said it -was a pity that an opportunity had not been given of considering the Bill. The gathering subsequently went as a deputation "to the Prime Minister, and urged that the Government should bring Mr. C. C. Jieade to Xew Zealand to advise on town-planning matters. Mr. Keade is well known in this country, where he was'formerly engaged in journalism, ho. has been prominently connected with the town-planning movement in various parts of Che world, and has given advice respecting town-plan-ning legislation in. AVest Australia, South Australia, and Tasmania. The. proposal is. that he should assist in the drafting of New Zealand legislation. 1 The Hon. J. -T. 'Paul'said the matter was one which should be attended to now, without awaiting'the , termination of the war. Citizens should be decently housed and land properjy used, and all this was in the interests of industrial efti-

■ ciency. ,• Mr. Parr said the deputation fell, so strongly the importance of getting Mr. Heade to conic here ami'advise on tho matter that the associations were, willing to bear a share of the cost. They wore not' anxious to havo a Dill this session, and were prepared 'to wail: ami have a thorough, measure prepared for the following session.' •• ' Mr. H. Ell, "M.P., said he supported the advocacy of the deputation. ■ The Prime Minister, replying, expressed high appreciation of the work of the bodies the deputation represented. Tltn matter was one of great importance. Sir Francis Bell had said on behalf of the tfoverament that the State would be • prepared to pay- £MQ- toward the cost of Mr.-Reade'e services. _ AVlien the | Mackenzie Government was in office a. TownPlanning Bill was prepared, and he would see whether Cabinet would deal

with ttio subject-matter oi' the clauses in that measure. . If such an Act had been in operation lor the past quarter of a ceutury millions of money, ho thought, would have boon saved.to the nation. As to tho future, 'Ilie operations of speculators ought to be watched, particularly in rogaril to sanitation and the provision of schools and sites of public buildings. The matter raised by •the deputation would bo brought before Caiuet as early as possilc.