The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1930. REGIONAL PLANNING.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 1930. REGIONAL PLANNING.

Under the amendment to the Town Planning Act last year, Parliament introduced Regional Planning as sometnuig acfclitional to town pianning, pure and simple. The regional scheme is intended to be all embracing so far its teniiory is concerned, and to take m out districts as well as urban and extra urban lands. The regional planning scheme has for its general purpose “the conservation and economic development of the natural resources of the region to which it relates, by means of classifying the lands therein comprised for the purpose for which there are best suited by nature, or for which they can best be adapted, and by the co-ordination of all such public improvements, utilises services and amenities, .as are not limited by the boundaries of the district of any one local authority, or do not relate exclusively to the development of any one suJi district.” This is a very wide order or reference, and may mean a great deal, il carried out to its full effect. The.position is further governed by tbe condition that “the regional planning scheme be preceded iby a comprehensive survey of the natural resources of the area to which it relates, and of the present and potential uses and values oi all lands within the region in relation to national, regional, or focal public utilities, services and amenities.” Here again there is much in little to carry out the legislative injunction to its full purpose. However, as was mentioned at the Conference on behalf of Westland, a great deal of spade work has been done by the Mines, forestry and Lands Departments To compile similar reports, if tbe onus were thrown on tbe local hotly, would be costly indeed. The proposal as it stands, means that in the Town Planning Hoard another Government Department is functioning, and it is seeking the co-operation of the local bodies as ils subsidiaries, to poriorni a not inconsiderable undertaking.

It would appear that some fusion of

tiie existing i.eparuuems handling the settlement, mining and lorestry ot the i/oniniion, with a wealth ot acquired inromiacion at cheir disposal, could supply the particulars for the Board ior cb-oruinatmg purposes. Having supp Led that information at their disposal, could supply the particulars lor the board for co-oidmaung purposes. Having supplied that intorma--ion, then what next? Where are the 10-al bodies going to get the wherewithal to carry on developmental work? If it be a soil survey then the Agricultural Department is there now equipped to give the information. If it is a study of geological features, the Alines Department can give the particulars. So ou with regard to (the qualities of the land for settlement. 1 udecd, with respect to that aspect, there is already a Land Development Board appointed under the Land Act, and the members for Westland sat- at Hokitika this ween. On this scope, therefore, it appears there would be overlapping. Apart from that it does not appear to us that members of local bodies who would constitute the Regional Committees, are sufficiently experienced as experts to provide “the survey of the natural resources of their ova.” The work is outside the domain for which they are elected. A new department appears to be cropping up with a field for professional work, and this can liaidly lie carried out without payment. There is a danger of a greatly increased administration: cost being thrown on the ratepayers if the effective organisation of all that is intended is to he placed upon the public bodies. As regards the ordinary “conservation or development” of a district, the local bodies have no funds .fo.r that-purpose to spend by way of experiment. Real development and expansion rests with private enterprise he it mining, milling or settlement. , The miner, the miller or the settler will naturally fortify himself with all available information as to his proposition, and then finally use his own judgment as to its practicability. Viewed in this light, this regional planning appears to bo rather ahead of its time. It is far removed from the principles of townplanning under the net of which it is incorporated. Admittedly it is for progress and development, hut it appears to he along expensively designed lines and the method is too cumbersome and certainly uncertain. The settlement of a given locality can be helped greatly by giving its proper ac r, p?*. and that provided, the enterprising settler or other citizen will set about developmental work along economic lines in keeping with the possibilities of the proposition.