Town Planning.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 December 1911, Page 4

Town Planning.

A FAMOUS EXAMPLE

.sr.II JOSEPH. WARD'S VISIT jU

BOUIINVILLE.

New Zealand's interest in schemes of town-planning is not likely to prove ephemeral, despite some checks and rebuffs at the begin.i,ng. The somewhat wholesome desor ction of trees in our country districts here and there has made one wholesomo eflec';-. it has tended to ms.'J?e the dwellers in cities value trees .more highly. Once tho love of trees is ingrained, the first step toi ward tho establishment of garden i cities is in a groat measure assticd. So far, at least, our New Zeaimid citi'es have gone. There is a rotably gracious wealth of trees in i parts of Auckland and Gbristohurcn ; Dunedin lias patches and clu ips that redeem the insidious harshness of the place; even in Wellington the man who plants a tree is at length esteemed. Amongst smaller towns in New Zealand, Levin supplies a notably good example. In England and America things have gone much farther, so that in many places there is quite a cult of tree-planting. Trees are. ind ■ •■.], the first essential of a beaut; ; til city. The appealing loveliness and intimate human charm of Paris, its haunting vistas and exquisite atmosphere— a I this is unthinkable apart from the trees. Much of !lie peculiar charm of Buda-Pesth is directly attributable to the Amie cause. _So in Dresden, and, a do/.en other historic cities easy to naue. Squalor and trees can scarcely coexist; but if squalour threatens in a modern city where trees are, men instinctively se"- to work to re:i- •« •• the squalo i;• and preserve the ti'H>s. This is Avhv, whenever town-plann l ng is scientifically undertaken in England nad we hear of t"rden cities. There are already in my

• such, each exerting a defini,'>ly beneficient influence that is felt far beyond its borders. Amongst the garden-settlements of England, Cadt bury's famo i.s cocoa town of Bo ivie. i ville easily takes first place. There I the idea of the garden-city goes, as it were, hand in hand with democ <"i- - For Bournville is a little city of workers. The term "city 'is used advisedly. It stands for co:n■pletonoss and harmony, rather th.u! for size. T.ichfield is a city, whereas Bradford is merely a. great tovn. Rourneville is a city in effect, hecause its parts arc' admirably corelated that the appropriate ur.wn harmony is produced. It has the true civic spirit, because in ov<":v inhabitant the enthusiasms of the community -arc militant. In Bjirnevillo it has boon proved that <i population of ordinary or avenge working folk can live in a town aica closely kept to daily tasks, and live beautiful and spacious ! ves when work i.s done. If it were a Socialistic settlement Ave should !•■ hearing every day how wonder/.;! it is.

Sir J<osop,!i Ward and his parly spent a day at Bourneville .short v before they left England. Spooking to the writer of this note the other day, the Prime Minister ma le no concealm* lit of his satisfaction with what h : saw there.

j "I went ali over the place," :ic I said, '''and the- more I saw of it the ! better pleased I was. Tilio Cad- | bury people have given practical a;:- | plication to all that Liberal policy in New Zealand has limped for .or years in the matter of the lio'ning oi tlie worker. The bouses *t Bournevillo are not only modern and eommodiou., tliey arc beanci-il, and sot hanr oniously among bea itifu 1 .surroundings. Tlio tiling nt-t happens is just what one might npoet. The workers are eheerci and invigorated I>y their surroundings and invii'onment. They ".e such self-iespect that tiie.v are courteous and helpful to each other and t'i even-body. That is because thev live under natural conditions. Bo i ty and odour are not artificial. T]-p earth vis made beautiful by design. and whenever we dostr'oy or rollu'o natural beauty. we dofo.it the divine ii iontion. Tlie bouses and cottages at Roni-neville harm >niso so with the hrvmtiful trees and open spaces, and with one!) other, tbat tliev mi edit almost have grown tI'OVO.

I "TTe had an npportunitv of soo- ; the great, Cadbury cocoa and choooi- . at" -works, liein-j taken over >r vy j part of them by Mr Oadbiirv hmijself. Hero again wo wore g'roulv improved 'Jk the wisdom and forc*sighfc of tliis firm. Tt has boon displayed in the laying oufc of the ivories just as much as in the ,/!; n.iiin.ee of tho own. As the lmsi.i ss | has developed, everpthing has in on j carried oil with remarkable .jnlgj rnnnt. There is no trace of dirt or | muddle, nothing; to oft'end any cioI coivtly cultivated sense. Pighk 1 through these are the cleanest works i that I have ever .seen. Conside -nig j how many thousand people arc '<nly employe.;! in them, it is wonder: 11. There is no suggestion of a pi ire swept and furnished far public show. One realises that tilings are alw-.vs just .as ono sees them. To p'o© those great crowds of happy folks busily employed in those airy roons, with everything swept .and'oirdivly, and the. w hole place running with the smoothness of some exqnhiro marihine—it is marvellous. Tn m.my places wo see and hoar of clea.iii.ness in essential processes of manufacture; hut >at Bourneville there is not a spot 07 smirch anywhere. "There are splendid reserves ami gardens. _ Most generous provnun is made in the matter of sports ami pastimes. Thero nro f<ooi.ball grounds, swimming baths. Nothing has been left undone that could he done to see ire the health and happiness of (Lis community of working folk. Nothing has been left undone that tan ensure tho turning-out of tTie article produced in a state of absolute purity. _ _ You have j>erfcct order awl precision, on a site that is perfect beauty."

At Bonrneville there is proof of what a private firm can do in the interests of ts workers. The Liberal Party in New Zealand has merely insisted that what a private firm can do. the State can help the people to do for themselves. Bonrnville is an ohjcot lesson. It is !>■ so an encouragement.