DRIFT OF POPULATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 202, 21 May 1919, Page 3

DRIFT OF POPULATION

A PROBLEM TO BE FACED "_* NEW ZEALAND'S GROWING TOWNS The movement of population from the country to the towns in New Zealand was discussed by tho ACinialer of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) at the Town-planning Conference. Mr. Russell said tliat in TBSI the countrf or rural population numbered 'J91.238 and the borough population 194,981. At that time rather less than 40 per cent, of the people of New Zealand had lived in the cities and towns. But at the census of 1916 it. was found that 538,806 people were living in the towns and cifes, as against 501,259 In the country, the per- ■ ccntages at that dato being in boroughs 53.24, in counties 45.50. "The figures show," said Mr. Russell, "that our town population now largely exceeds the country population, a position 1 exceedingly regret. Further, my deliberate opinion is. that if the suburban population in counties adjoining our towns and cities were included it would be found that instead of our city and "borough, population being 53.24 as shown by the census of 1918 it would really b* more like CO per cent, of the total. "In order to still more closely grip the position, 1 have obtained from the Government Statistician particulars of the area, population, capital value and unimprov'etr'valuo of the four cities of tho Dominion, in addition to some of the most progressive secondnry towns in each island, The figures show that the population of Auckland, including suburban boroughs, has risen'from 43,628 in 1596 to 116,337 In 1916, while its capital value has risen from .£7,080,030 to .i',14,747,126 in 1918. Wellington's population has risen from 45,963 to 92,261, and its capital value from ".fi9,254,. r i27 to -£27,761,489. The population, of Christch'urch han risen from 4-5,715 in 1596 to 75,892 in 1918, and its capital value fr.om ,£6,435,350 tn 417,961,683 in 1918. The population of Dunedin has risen from 49,181 to 66,926, and its capital value from ,£6,838,641 to ■£14,017,759. Invercargill'e population iw> from 9996 in 1896 to 15.866 in 1910, and its capital value from ,C 1,230,753 t> .£4.099,460 in 1918. The population of Pnlmerston North was in 1896 59M, and in 1916 12.529, whilst its capital valno toso from \£G31,798 in IS9B to .£3,151,202 in 1918.

"In several of tliese instances tho increases liavo como nliout b.r nmnlgaraation, a policy which is warmly to be comInendecl as tending to bring suburban districts under a higher form of rannicipal goferriment. It will, however, ho understood, hovr the problems of town planning are accentuated by tho extension of our cities. Tho wily land speculator, in selling farms and suburban areas for residential purposes, has taken little or no account of "whether his sal?.s.. and resultant profits fitted in with either the _ lay-out of the city or the adaptability of the section lie sold to drainage or water supply. Such questions did not trouble him; his primary object has been to secure tho enormous incrense in vlluo that has been obtainable .through" the necessity of workmen residing as closely »s possible to their employment. "Jt is time that a stop was put to this by legislation being passed, which will make it impossible for any person to sell residential areas unless provision is made for tho properties iittiiiß in to A clearly defined scheme of loading, drainage, water supply, lighting for the future, won though their necessity'at- the prosent may not bo so apparent. Coupled with the necessities I have mentioned is one other, namely, that from every block of land which is sold for residential purposes thorn should be 6et aside by the owner necessary reserve for puhlio utilities, such as schools, post offices, parks, recreation grounds, and open. spaces. The property own«r who is aninp to draw large profits from the ramimunity must, in my opinion, bo innao responsible for tho needs of _ that community in the matters to which* I have referred. This is a most important phase of the lor the rea'6on tnat Iho village of to-day in ten -years hence is tho township, in 20 years'after it-has possibly 'become a town district or- borough, and 50 years later may be the prosperous city. On us, of this goneration, rests the obligation of seeing that those who como after us uro wcvidcd by proper towiirplanning scheme, provision and limitations with those things which provide for healthy environment and the absence of siums.

"In ISill there wer» 87 boroughs in New Zealand. Ii! 'aifl I here were US, birt as a large.number of mergings and amalgamations had taken place in U>* Meantime, the number of new boroughs is much greater than. is shown by the figures. As-New Zealand progresses, new towns will spring uj> in --'a-rious parts of the Dominion, and I sincerely hops that our legislation tihall be on such lines that in every case before a new borough is proclaimed the principles of town planning shall hs strictly applied foe the benefit of the then and future population."