TOWN-PLANNERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 219, 10 June 1920, Page 6

TOWN-PLANNERS

CONFERENCE OP FEDERATION

PROPOSED BILL DISCUSSED

. Many interesting poiniß relating t< . tho future development of cities anc • towns within the Dominion were (lis . cussed at a conference of the Federate : Town-Planning Association of Now Zea ' land, which was held at the Dominioi Farmers' Institute yesterday. At tin outset the conference was presided ovci by tho Minister of Education (the Hon C. J. Parr) as president of the asso ; ciation, and subsequently Mr. A. Leigt Hunt took (he chair. Resolutions Adopted. Tho conference discussed the recom mendations of the town-planning con ferencc of last year. Tho desirablenes: of supplementing the proposed commis sion by local boards was unatiimouslj endorsed, and the following resolution! wore adopted:— That Ihere bo a Town-planning nn< Housing Department, and an exper town-planner appointed, tho Depnrtnien to have supervision over all town-plan ning schemes. That it is advisable to appoint [ central town-planning commission, t< consist of the town-planner and fou: other experts in engineering, architec turp, surveying, and public health. The town-planner should l>e a com petent and experienced town-planne: with a salary that would cnnblo th' Dominion to obtain the services of ! first-class man who has had actual ex perienco !>oth in town-planning scheniei and garden cities, and who is recog nised by civic authorities as a town planner of eminence. Bringing the State Into Line. Sonio discussion took place in conncc lion with a'recommendation that:"Clos co-operation is necessary between Gov eminent Departments. particularl; Lands. Public Works, Railways, Pos and Telegraph, Tourist, and the Town planning and Housing Departments, cs pocially where these Departments ar parrying out public works. They shouli observe the town-planning and housini by-laws." Mr. W. Stuart Wilson moved that th motion be supplemented by Ihe add; tion of a clause urging that the Govern ment b<s bound by any Act placed o; the Statute Book" bearing on the snr, ject. They could not, he urged, expec the people to conform, with the princi pies laid down if tho Government itsel did not observe them. A. suggestion was made I>y Mr. .T. H Palmer that, it be a recommendatioi that the Government he bound by th provisions of the nroposed Act in an; district in which they may be in opera tion. He moved accordingly. Mr. Palmer's amendment wan rejects in favour of Mr. Wilson's motion, whicl was adopted along with the origins, motion. Compulsory Measures. A. point next discussed by the confei enco was whether all improvement! even minor schemes, should he to the Town-Planning Commission. Th chairman, and Messrs. W. M. Page an G. Stranchon were appointed to draf recommendations covering the point dis cussed. As ft result of its deliberations th committee submitted tho following tc commendations: Everv horouah or tow: district with a population of over 20(1 shall be a town-planning area: two o more adjoining boroughs or town dis frictn with a total population of 200 shall be a town-planning area. Adja cent land may be declared to form paT of an area, by the. Government on th recommendation of the Central Commis sion. Any other area may be declare a town-planning area on the recom mendation of the Central Commissio: and at the request of tho local an thority. Every local town-plannin; board shall be constituted of: (1) reprc t-entatives of the several boroughs, coun ties, and town districts comprised ii the- town-planning area to be appoints by tho local authorities of those di 6 triets; (2) two other persons, being rate payers,, within the town-planning are: to bo elected by the ratepayers, th elections to be held, at the same tim as the elections of the local'anthoritie within the area. It shall bo the dut; of the Town-planning Board to prepar a scheme on town-planning lines withi: twelve months after tho date of the es tablishment of such scheme and to b (submitted to the town-planner for hi approval. _ Should such Town-plannin Board fail to prepare en scheme withi] the time, the Central Commission shal draft a scheme and compel such loca Town-planning Bonrd to carry out th same. Until such scheme is adopte* then no more work shall bo undertake; of a character as determined by. th commission without, its approval. The recommendations were discusse at considerable length, doubt being es pressed by some delegates as to whethe tho compulsory clauses were practicable Ultimately they were adopted withou amendment. The election of officers was deferre. until a meeting of the federation to h held witfiin two months. Mr. B. Hi] was elected secretary. Before adjourning tho conference ds c.ided to.meot the Minister of Interna Affairs (Hon. G. J. Anderson) and a: range for a deputation from the federa tion.