Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1924, Page 2

Tun present period of English history, notes a writer on town planning shows great activity in civic planning and development— the definite preparation for the Future growth of cities by care-fully-prepaicd plans and surveys. Yet it seems strange tlmt of such a progressive People, those of- the British Empire—people renowned for their industrial activity, their careful consido. rarion of all possible circumstances, a race of nation-builders —it can be said that the extensive planning of the;' cities in advance is so far behind other countries. Germany. France. Sweden and other Continental countries, have long shown to the world the national and personal advantages of proper control. The jovs of a visit to Paris, the pleasures of Brussels and Vienna—these impressive and beautiful cities, inspire our admiration and appreciation. Whv a,re not our cities as beautiful? Do

we oyer stop to think of tlio reason? In Australia, we hear talk of Sydney Harbour. of Melbourne's wido streets; hut they arc not famous for the beauty and efficiency of their plan, maybe been use they are not yet largo enough, not sufficiently developed. The magnificent European cities aie not the result of haphazard growth; they arc the direct result of a complete comprehensive town planning scheme. The magnificent boulevards, the spacious places, the attractive vistas, were all carefully planned, designed with a direct relationship to each other, and placed so as to create efficiency a.s well as beauty. Isolated improvements will not. give this efficiency: they must he made to conform to a complete scheme covering the whole city. England and America have both found how costly is this haphazard growth of cities; .they have become so largo and unwieldy that they will not function. Traffic lines are misplaced, paths wrongly allocated, residential districts blighted, and trades and industries affected. To come nearer home New Zealand cities ate now moving definitely in the work of heaut'ilying their surroundings. Locally we have a 1 teaut ifyiitg Society which has made a beginning also, lint here with limited funds and population a comprehensive scheme i> beyond resources. Yet a good deal is being done, and hv the sustained help of the citizens much more could he done. To-night the local Society is appealing for more funds and if the folk are in earnest about the betterment of thl-ir town's ap|earam-c the support extended (•> the Sot icty in its self-imposed task should he unstinted.

Tut; report of the Rcsgivcs Committee presented at the Borough Council meeting mi l'riday night disclosed the difti Jill tv of those charged with the care of the cemetery in doing all that is necessary in the letter upkeep of the cemetery and grounds. \Ye should say that it is an obligation on the eomiiiiiuitv to see that “God s Acre is maintained always in seemly order. In respect to the local cemetery which has been in use now for fully sixty years, it is ilt« common burial ground for the whole surrounding country. The louden of upkeep falls upon the town that is when the income falls below the exi>eti<liuire and that appears to |,e the position at the moment. It was revealed in the report under notice that five years ago when the unfortunate epidemic passed over the community tin. cemetery account was m credit. The mini her of deaths annually sinc-e lias decreased substantially and with the decreased income from burial fees and sale of plots, the credit l.alanse has disappeared, and a debit balance lias grown up. It is increasing venr |iy year, and as there is the need f„r mmh extra work about the ceincterv grounds to maintain them m seemly older the financial drift must increase. The question was raised of inkling something to the annual Borough rale to provide more money each year for more effective upkeep, or. of transfer!ing a sum from the genciul Borough Fund. These proposals are V ety much akin, but there remains the alternative proposal of increasing the .atrial ices to give more adequate reverence. This suggestion is to he gone into hv the Reserves Committee. There is the suggestion also that the fees lor town and country might, differentiate and this proposal is to he considered also. The main obligation remains however, namely, that the apI I’lirnrie? «>f ttie cemetery sli.ml.l 1 kept, up in a creditable condition. For sonic time it was ) e mitted to drill ini', a Very neglected < undilion. A change has heel, .-iV-rlcd to .-onto dogive, lint a great deal nine re [tti.es p.. 1,0 done. if the appearance ~i the grounds ary to he any credit to the community. It is well to have attention called to this matter, ami the position I’nll.v explained so that ihe public will lindetstand where and how responsibility rests. The Borough Council will, v.c aie sure, bar.- the sympathetic interest, ol the public >n a.nv action deemed ncies>aiy to better the n' tve l alire n lhe <ollleterv.