TOWN PLANNING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 134, 1 March 1919, Page 7

TOWN PLANNING

, . VIEWS OF A PIONEER, Mr. Hurst Seager sautf Mr. Leigh Hunt .attended the conference of the Women's National Deserve yesterday to explain the objects of the Town-Planning Conference " which":is to he held shortly in Wellington; and of which Mr. JTurst Seager lias been appointed president by the Government.' .' . ' . , . Mr.: Hurst Seager said that he highly appreciated the privilege of being able to "meet" the ' representatives of the Women's National lleserve because lie wished first on behalf of the Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs to extend to the t representatives of all branches throughout the Dominion a very warm welcome to tho conference* and, secondjy, to emphasise the fact that town-planning was a,subject in .which they'could all take a very keen interest. He wisshwl to remove the misconception that townplanning was merely the' planning of roads or even the making of a ''city beautiful." .'Those two things _ formed part.only of town-planning activities. A glance ait the prograpime of the conference to be held in May would show that the chief, thought in relation to townjplanning is the betterment of conditions 'under which peopl# have to live. It'.was', certainly true that town-, planners endeavoured to have.thoroughly useful works carried out in a beautiful way, and the people, were thus led to think that the object of town-planners : Was to spend money only upon beautiiication. ' .. Beautj-j it was true, counted for a very gfeat deal in the' •mvironment of the people. Beauty and amenity were allied to . health; cheerfulness, good manners, and good morals. To sin against beauty., was just' a mark of low-grade civilisation as'.'to sin against l.ealtliy, cleanliness, aud social justice.' Therefore, it was of paramount importance that what useful work was c&Tried out should be done in a pleasing manner. By carrying out scientific and useful work with an artistic feeling, beauty would result. They wanted to remove the impression that planning was an expensive luxury. It was quite the contrary. It was the exercise of-foresight in order teat the greatest e'eonomy in" all branches of life might be effected. There were'row a far greater number of people than hitherto who realised that our social conditions are not ! what they should toe, Mid that something j must 1» "done.

■There was a danger in this tJiat the solf-sacrificing social work that lias for many years been done in a modest way by the women of 'New Zealand was likely to be overlooked. Their work»sliould bo recognised; and it ,was desired to meet them and learn exactly, what has been, and is being, done, so that all those who M-i interested in the social; welfare of the people may help to carry o,ut the ideals- of- the. social ..workers. Ifc was only in this way that overlapping could be . avoided, and the conference would effect a very large amount of good by enabling''all the different organisations whose interests toifth at any point on town-planning to make their work , and interest known.

All women's organisations of which they could, find'any note had been' invited to attend the conference, and Mr. Seager expressed the hope that those who had not received: invitations would communicate with him when full particulars would be forwarded. In this respect the: delegates there present could\ render good: services. , • ■

Mr. Leigh. Hunt paid a tribute to Mr. Hurst Seager'as the pioneer of townplanning in New : Zealand, and endorsed everything that he had 6oid. He stressed the need for better housing, and said that. the overcrowding in Wellington'was worse than in any other city in Australasia. .Insleijd. of boasting that we have n> slums, 'We should be at work to prevent them. He 6aid he had been a farmer, ; and,. speoiking from his pei.sonal experience, said that if animals were overcrowded into small spaces they developed the most unexpected vices. The. same applied to . humans. Overcrowding breeds rebels, and if wo were to have decent citizens we must give thenij decent surroundings. The conference passed a vole of appreciation and 'thanks to both speakers, and .resolved that tha reserve would do all in its power to further the objects of the Town-Planning Conference, and to help forward the various schemes to be disciisscd there.