TOWN-PLANNING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 8

TOWN-PLANNING

NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE ADDRESS BY HON. W. D. S, MACDONALD FRESH PAPERS DISCUSSED The Town-planning Conference and Exhibition was continued in the Town Hall vestcrday. The Mayor of Invercargill (Mr. John Stead) presided in Hie moming, and tho Mayor of Palmerslon North (Mr. J. A. Nash) presided in the afternoon. Papers were read and discussed at each session. A Minister's Sentiments. Tho Hon. W. D. S. Macllonald (Ministor of Mines and Agriculture) was present at the commencement of yesterdays business. He accepted an invitation to address tho conference. Mr Mac Donald said that h& vas pleased to see how much interest was being taken in the conference. He was particularly pleased to see how the ladies were taking up the subject of, town-1 planning, for ho believed that there could be no success without the assistance of tho women. He believed that the conference was one of great importance i<s the country. The public conscience had been stirred by the revelations brought about through'the epidemic, and there was now a demand from the people for better condition* generally. He believed that the subject of town-planing could bo best handled by a central authority havin" at its command the best advice possible. It would be tho duty of the conference to deal with tho whole quention and. make its proposals for improvement. The idea of fixing a limit to the size of a city seemed to be a primary factor in town-planning. It was necessary I hut sound P™ciples should be formulated ceforc the energy and the money that wouid have to be expanded on the future development ot the country had been allowed to run irrevocably into wrong channels. _ As Minister of Mines he had received a report pointing out that much of tne industrial unrest and dissatisfaction prevailing among the miners might bn attributed to the sordklness of their housinjr conditions and the monotony of their home life. Few of.the miners' houses reached the standard necessary to eneuro tne efficiency of tne miner and to provide decent conditions for their wives and children. There was almost an entire lack in the mining towns of bdequate sanitation and drainage, and no attempt had been made to plan the towns. The problem to be solved in the mining towns was ft part of the towsplanning problem it. general, and the results of the deliberations of the conference should be of assistance nx bringing about a solution. It should be mado clear what was possible and what was not- what was in the lino of ordered decision and.what would in tho long run Drove an obstruction. If it was desired that New Zealand should be peopled with a virile, healthy manhood, and that industrial strife should be replaced by peace and contentment, prompt attention must, be given to seeing that all.classes of the community were housed in surroundings that were as healthy and attractive as science aad art could make 11 The Hon. J. T. Paul ««« that he considered extremely valuable the remarks (he Minister had made. He hart been particularly struck by the remarks Mr. Mac Donald had made upon causes of industrial unrest. Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., believed that the Minister's paper marked a distinct advance in the Government attitude towards Hie "problems discussed. If Ministers of the Crown in future would act up to the principles referred to by ilr. Mac Donald, the town-planners would be more than satisfied. v The conference thanked Mr. Mac Donald for his speech. War Memorials. Mr. W. H. Montgomery, Director of Vocational Training, spoke upon war memorials. He believed that it was .the duty of the people of New Zealand to erect fitting memorials to our soldiers who had fought and suffered in tho great war Such memorials 6Jiould be permanent, and they and their surroundings should be artistic. He was opposed to the idea of erecting them with utilitarian objects. No spirit of parochialism ehould prevent tho country from securing the best talent in tho world to design them. They should not be erected haphazard, but on a co-ordinated system, and in order to ensure co-ordination the Government should-appoint a commission without delay. No stereotyped form of memorial coiilrt 1)6 laid down, but be would suggest that tho designers of to-day should look on a memorial with the vision of Bus people who'would come 100 years after. Memoiials should express the emotion ojt the present memory of tho past, and be an inspiration for the future. "The City Beautiful" Discussed. Viv .1 ]?. iliiimings (architeot to the Government of Bilwr and Orissa) read nn interesting paper upon "llio City Beautiiiil." The paper is referred to else- " in"the % discu6sion that followed its. delivery Mr 3 j<. .Siilniond pointed out that up to tho present it had been possible to do only little things m New Zenland towards town-pUuimng. Hβ hoped that the conference would mark the comX ment of an era of bigger things. He beljeved that the civic authority was not doing its duty if it permitted cihI Kens to neglect the frontages of then dwelling, and so to disfigure the bor- « ml or city. Children should bo taught to con tribute in every, possible way to tie tidiness and, good appearance of U D,I Varies Chilton said that New Zealand should dim »°VV OP /'L n masterpieces of tonty to be found in ether lands, but simply, at doing the e"t possible within the practical limit, of present conditions. Ho had some comment to make upon the, conventional ea of a fountain in this country. There wSe «onie expensive .fountains in New Holland conventional in design, and seldom g Uv of playing. He would prefer to see fountains that would cost lew; for her text oiTer to provide good food for the people, ind sot a good standard of life,Mr M'KpnziP. municipal gardener for We iri-tonf delivered a brief paper upon "Shade Trees in Towns and Cities." Streets and Roads. - Most" S. A. !?■■ Mair and N. Crofton Stanley'presented a. panerjipou City Si-wets'.lllll Country Roads. . . Th'authors were strongly of opinion lh i t in the past too litlle attention had en aid to the location of roads which , m n instances had become streets, l" every case the' prime location should bo file proper one, regardless of the cost, o liisiiiou or construction, downplanniiiß should commence with the location of all the roads. The width of- streets was probably tho most debatable point in street construe, ton and-it was a curious fact that it was almost tho only matter relating Ic, steels that was definitely laid down by I s atute law, which fixed the minimum ,t 6B Vet. The ideal width for mam thoroughfares might be found by conb lering tho nature, speed, and intensity of the traffic. In residential areas it was des "able from all points of view to keep the vehicular traffic at some distance from the houses, and also from the pedes, triin traffic.' The streets in residential quarters should include grass strips: ami tVir appearance would depend upon tho gn s strips being maintained in good order. Householders themselves might undertake the upkeep of (heir frontngo n connection with their gardening operatiom. In order to encourage them to perform flic' work the local authority niMil well permit them to enclose a iwtiun «f tho street with a low fenco and utilise it as part ot the garden, under suitable restrictions as to resumption ami the use made of the enclosed portion. An arrangement, of the kind would necessarily apply to the whole street and not to isolated cases, or (ho Bpp> ranee of the street would be BPniled. „■ . • ~ With regard to surfacing, it was now universally agreed that the smooth or "sealed" surface was the only ono that 'would last satisfactorily under motor

traffic. The surface might consist: (1) Ot bare concrete; (2) of concrete carpeted with liitiinien, prepared tar, or other similar material; or (?) of tar-macadam "scaled" with such material. It was probable that until all traffic was carried on rubber tyres the bare concreto surface would show enough wear in a few years to make carpeting advisable, at any rate in streets of moderately heavy ■traffic. In suburban streets aud country roiuls it had in its favour lower resistance to traction, especially in hot weather, and a pleasing appearance that was in marked contrast with the sombre api.earanco of tar-macadam. The latter was, however, from its slight resiliency, more accoptable to horse traffic. The standard of road construction vas now being raised so rapidly that the problem of financing the main roads'was the principal difficulty to be faced. There-w-is no doubt that when this difficulty iv.is settled developments would follow that would go far to revolutionise tho matter of rural transport, and consequently the commercial and domestic life of the country generally. VARIOUS OPINIONS. IMPORTANCE OF THE ENGINEER Mr. E. AY. Holmes, engineer in chief to the Public Works Department, did not. think that the present time was opportune for the discussion of the details of road-making. The conference should devote itself entirely to educating the Legislature and the public to a sense of the need that existed for the exercise of proper control over the growth of cities. Tho selection uf proper sites for towns and tho extension of towns would have to receive mor-a attention in future. Balclutha was a town that had been wrongly situated. It actually _ stood upon the flood channels of the river, and was in such a dangerous position that it required to have protective works. Mr. Holmes mentioned other towns that had quite unnecessarily been situated in unsuitable places. Hβ ended by contending that those who, as engineers, had control of expenditure, upon public works should invariably be men fully qualified by education arid ability for tho positions they occupied. Mr. F. W. Furkert, inspecting engineer to the Public Works Department, somewhat amplified Mr. Holmes's final observation. He pointed out that in the present state of affairs, a servant of a municipality could carry out an electrical scheme that would electrocute everybody, provided merely that he could get" the" assent to it of those vho happened to' constitute his council On tho other hand, if a householder wanted to connect up with tho electrical service before mentioned, he had to employ a fully-qualified man to carry out tho work.

Mr. L. Birks, chief electrical engineer of the Public .Works Department, said that one day, when the expense appeared to be justified, telephone and electric lHit wires should be uiuder-groiiudtd in the cities of New Zealand. From the aesthetic point of view he was as little in favour of the present rows of poles as anyone was. While poles remained, however, they should preferably be of standardised size. He would like to see the corners cut off suburban roads. Electric power was going to exercise a tremendous influence upon the future of town-planning. The first thing that it should bring about when its use. became universal, would bo the _ abolition of chimneys and the smoke nuisance. Mr. P.' S. M'Lenn, president of tho New Zealand Automobile Union, said that motorists generally would favour the proposal for a national memorial highway, to run from one end pt New Zealand to the other. Thhe railway servico of the country u.ust be supplemented by good arterial roads. It hail often been said .that motor-cars ivere used merely for pleasure. An Ausiraliaii census had revealed that -8;> per cent, of the cars in uso wero employed for business. It was inadvisable that the control of roads should be in the hands of the same authority as controlled the railways. He wanted a non-pohti-eal road board to control national road works. Mr. H. V. Toogood, engineer to tlio Peatherstpa City Council, said that anyone, with the consent of the local body, could build a bridge on a public road in New Zealand. But before a man was permitted to drive a traction-engine over the bridge he must have a certificate. He drew the same moral from theso facts .as.Messrs. Holmes and Furkert had done. He urged that more attention should be given to the provision of adequate arterial roads for the Dominion. It must be realised that the roads leading out of and into a city were as important as the city streets themselves. The very basis of town-planning rested with the engineer, and unless a town waa located by competent men, the architect could never build a city thai; would nieot town-planners' requirements. Dr. J. A. Thomson, Director of the Domiuion Museum, remiuded the conferonce of the part that geologists might play in town-planning. Geological considerations would often affect the choice' of an area, and tho utilisation of tho area when chosen. Tho advice of the (•eologist should therefore lie sought. Ho suggested that the Geological Survey stall should bo increased, so as to permit ono officer to givo-timo to'the preparation of reports upon road metals. Mr. N. Pntcrson, of the Wellington City Engineer's department, believed that before one could deal adequately with the planning of roads, one had to. possess a vision that could extend twenty-five years ahead,, and take into account the tremendous possibilities of the extension of motor traffic. Councillor L. M'Kenzie (Wellington) was in agreement with previous speakers as to (ho paramount importance of the engineers on town-planning. Mr. A. D. Dobson, of Canterbury, pointed out that in the making of the cities of New Zealand the settler had come firsK-md the engineer had been compelled to do his best afterwards. Tho engineer should always come first. Townplanners must begin at the foundation, with tho provision of all those things that went to ensure the health of the people. The architect came second in the scheme.

TOWN-PLANNING BILL ■ BEPOBTi OP COMMITTEE. The Hon. G. W. Euss«ll presided over ,(lie evening' session of Hie conference, which considered the. report of the committee appointed to deal with the TownpJanning Bill. The report was as follows:— (1) That this committee is of opinion that the principles of town-planning should be applied to New Zealand nml town-pliinning schemes prepared without delay. (2) That for this purpose legislation 'is necessary in the form of a Town-plan-ning mid Housing Act. (3) That there bo a Town-planning and Housing Department, and an expert town-planner appointed, the Department to ''have siiparvi.-yon over nil townplanning schemes. (I) That it is tulrisnble i® appoint a Central Town-planning Commission to consist of the town-planner and four oilier exports in engineering, architecture, surveying, and public health. (5) The town-planner should bo a competent and experienced town-planner willi a sain it that would enable the Dominion to obtain tho services of a iirstlilass man \ylio has had actual experieneo both iii town-planning schemes and gtirrien cities, and who is recognised by civic authorities as. a town-planner or eminence.

(G) That the provisions in the Bill for the creation of local town-planning hoards is approved, suhject to further provision being madit for the creation (/f special .areas coveriiiß more than tho existing boundaries of any local authority, with rejiresentalion thereon of all (lip local authorities interested.

(7) That where, owing to tho development of any district, tho immediate preparation of a plan , for town extension becomes necessary, the Minister may, in default, of action by Iho local authority, direct the Town-planniiw Department to prepare such <i plan for the consideration (if the local Town-planning Hoard set up with or without the consent of the lowil authority; such plan Mo'have legal effect aflor the slops provided in the Bill lor consideration of objections have, boon la ken. . :

(S) That (his committee approves of (he boitornipnl principle! embodied in Clause HI (1"V and suggest.*; that with a view to its cffpctive operation a special valuation should be mode Mn areas to 1» covered by town-planning schemes at Uid earliest possiWo date; such valuation to servo as A standard of comparison for the pur-

pose of levying a special betterment rate when it lias heroine evident that land values have increased owing to preparations for or carrying out of a, scheme.

(9) That the Bill should make provision for the preservation of our historical building* and relics, and that the Town-planning Commission be given the power to decide which of theso buildings are considered proper for preservation, in which case tho owners shall not l>o permitted to remove, niter, or destroy without special permission from the commission.

(10) That the conference lie recommended to appoint this committee a permanent one to further the passage of the proposed Bill through Parliament; Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., and Mr. C. E, Wheeler to be conveners.

(11) Clause 12 (2) of the Bill: 'Resolved, That the words "exceeding ten acres in extent." lie struck out, the committee being of opinion that an area of 10 acres is much too'large to be subdivided without the approval of the commission; and further, that every subdivision should be subject to approval.

(12) Clause 20: That the words "not exceeding .CSOCO" of 6truck out, Hie committee hems of opinion that a townplanning scheme having the public health, comfort, and amenity for its object, and after passing through all stages of inquiry and investigation as required by His Act, should not necessitate a poll of the ratepayers. The committee, however, favours the retention of the safeguard provided by the Bill where 10 per centum of the rate- - payers may demand a poll. After he had explained its clauses, Mv. C. J. Parr, M.P., moved the adoption of the report. He pointed out Unit the committee had removed the limitation formerly proposed in the daus.e i elating to the subdivision of land. As the clause now stood it required that every proposal for the subdivision of land should be carefully scrutinised, and approved or disapproved of by the townplanning authority. The clauses of the report were submitted to the meeting seriatim. Mr. A. Leigh Hunt moved llie 'allowing amendment to clause 1, as an andi'tioii:—"The provisions of the Townplanning Act shall apply to all Crown lands and works, and should any difference ari;e thereby between the Minister and tile town-planner or the, c<minissioner, the same shall be referred to -a special committee of Parliament.' The amendment was lost. Mr. Hunt also moved the following amendment to clause 3:—"That the {own-planner shall be appointed subject to removal by Parliament only." Mr. Rnsi-sll considered that it would be impossible to take such a proposal to Parliament, lie thought the idea quite impracticable. The amendment was lost. With reference to clause!, Mr. William Ferguson • (president of the New Zealand (Society of Civil Engineers) suggested that two members of the Central Town-planning Commission should be engineer;. He moved the deletion of the word "surveying," and the alteration of the clause to meet his suggestion. '

■Mr. Ferguson's amendment was discussed, but us it was not pressed it was allowed to stand merely as a suggestion. Mr. Russell said that there was in the report an omission, to liis mind. In the Bill as it had been presented by him to Parlinment there had been n jroposal to include in the personnel of the coinmission, in addition to the scientific men, persons appointed to represent the Municipal Conference and the Ccunties Conference. He would, however, move no amendment, but would merely continue to put the clauses of the i"povt to the conference. Commenting upon elapse 7, Mr. .Enssell said that as Minister of Public Health'lie had been convinced that where a local body refused to do its duty in matters affecting the public health there must be a power by which the. Government could establish machinery for the execution of the work- at the expense of the local body. Mr. J. P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington) moved an amendment to clause 8, that the botterment tax be made payable in land or money. The amendment was carried.

The name of Mr. H. F. von li'aast was added to tho two names ' uat ware already mentioned in clause 10. Tho report as amended was adopted by the conference. Other Committees. Mr. H. W. S. Ballnntyiie presented the report of the committee upon "Townplanning as it Affects National Utilities and Services." The committee recommended dose cooperation between Government Departments, particularly (he Departments of Lands, Public Works-, Railways, and Po?t and Telegraph, and (lie Townplanning and Housing Department. .Where the Departments were carrying out public works they should obsorvo the town-planning and housing by-laws, and when proposing to carry out works should give the local body concerned an opportunity of seeing the plan, etc., so that any objections might be considered InA the Town-planning and Housing Board. The committee found fault with the Post and Telegraph Department for providing unsightly posts to carry its wires down streets that had been treeplantstd and grass-plotted for beautification. It recommended that the Town- , planning Board must approve , of nil subdivisions under the Land Transfer Act before llio Registrar registered the title; and that catchment areas in all cases should bo purchased' or reserved in any part likely to become a centre of population. The committee of women delegates 6et up to consider "Town-planning as it affects the woman, the child, fJid tho home" congratulated the Minister of Internal Affairs upon having arranged tho conference. The committee was thoroughly in accord with the aims of tho (own-planning , movement, and hoped that practical town-planning legislation would bo placed on .the Statute Book during the coining session- of Parliament. It urged the Minister to sce to tho adequate representation of women un all bodies specially set up to deal with town-planning. It , was of opinion ' that as the conference wns dealing with tho broad question of town-planning it would be premature and ill-advised to enter into details in respect of the needs of women and children in particular. The committee , asked, however, that it be not disbanded, and that when required it consider specific matters under its original reference. It also tsked that the Government arrange for a conference of women, ,with the committee as a nucleus, to consider (in detail the. matters that the committee had been set up to consider. The report was adopted.