SLUM CLEARANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 8

SLUM CLEARANCE

Contributed bv Edmund Anscombe, F.N’.Z.T.A. Regarding the recent report and criticisms re Adelaide Road. In August. 193 G, through the columns of “The Dominion,” I put forward a proposal to build the N.Z. Centennial Exhibition on a site near the heart of the city, extending from Dufferin Street to Taranaki Street, bringing into the Exhibition (for its duration) the Mu■seum,'Art Gallery, and Basin Reserve; and the clearing of the area on both sides of Adelaide Road (rom the Basin Reserve to John Street. I also put forward a scheme (as illustrated in the accompanying bird's-eye view) for the rebuilding of Adelaide Road area after the Exhibition, showing a new Adelaide Road with residential buildings on each side; Government House is shown in the upper left-hand corner, and Wellington Boys’ College in the lower left. This first appeared in “The Dominion” on August 27, 1930, under the title “Betterment Scheme for Wellington City.” I do not look upon Adelaide Road as a slum area as slums go, but I do consider it is definitely a run-down area and a reproach to 'Wellington. 'The possibilities for improvement in this area open up an avenue for civic betterment work, which if carried into effect would be of lasting benefit to the city, and would demonstrate in practical form what an awakened civic conscience can achieve. A scheme such as that illustrated would, if adopted, tend Io speed up civic improvement works generally, and assist a Town Planning scheme for the future development of the whole city. By dedicating Adelaide Road to residential, and Te Aro Io manufacturing, the Basin Reserve and Museum-Art Gallery would make a delightful break between the two. In zoning our city, let it be done on modern and tried-out principles. The work of rebuilding, the Adelaide Road area would, of course, require to be done in sections—commencing with thq more dilapidated portions, and gradually carrying the project to completion. This would set nn example to be followed by other cities where similar conditions exist. As Architect for the N.Z. Centennial Exhibition, I had a panel erected in the Foyer to the Festival Hall, with the following inscription : “Make no little plans; they have no

magis to stir men’s blood, and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die. but long after we are gone will be a living ing this. asserting itself with tver-grow. ing insistency. Remember that our sons and grandsons are going to do

things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order, and your beacon beauty.” Those were the words of Daniel 11. Burnham (America's foremost City Planner), spoken in 11)07, when others were attempting to curb him in his endeavours to replan the City of Chicago, to make it America's most practical and beautiful

citv They might well be emulated in civic bettermeut work for Wellington totltty. , , ... I would like to repent vvhtit I wiul in ID.’T. wlinn putting I'ni-wai-il my Adelaide iloinl propn.'til: . "I p;iv a tribute to the nu-u ol earlier days. I' is remarkable what they m.‘complislied in Wellington. Naturally.

mistakes were made and opportunities lost, but men who never make mistakes seldom make anything. I know something of the cities of the world, and I have no hesitation in saying that, no I'l.-i-e I have visited has presented greater difficulties In city building than has Wellington.”—May 23,1944