TOWN PLANNERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10282, 17 May 1919, Page 8

TOWN PLANNERS

AND CIVIC POLITICS

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION .

Thero was a large and representative attendance at the annual meeting of the Greater Wellington Town-Plan-ning and Municipal Hectors’ Associa-

tion, held in the Farmers’ Institute

last evening. The chair was occupied by the president (Mr T. Ballinger;. Those present included representatives of the City Council, Harbour Board, 1 and other local bodies. The chairman read the annual re■port (already published), and stated that the receipts totalled TLT I- 3 - and payments amounted to £266 its ltd. This left a balance of £209 t> s 2d, but liabilities totalled £275 16s, 'leaving a deficit' of £66 Os 10d. ‘ In seconding tho adoption of tho innual report and balance-sheet, Mr A. Leigh Hunt traced the history ol the association, and referred to the iced for going ahead in town-planning matters, which ivas ,„tbe chief object of the association. In New Zealand they were twenty-five years behind witn regard to town-planning, and it was the duty of the citizens to put their houso in order. It was not to, the credit of New Zealand that slums should exist in so young a country. They were being continually troubled with industrial disputes, and there could be no doubt that the lack of decent housing facilities accounted to a great extent for the prevailing unrest. It would bo necessary in the near future to go in for a comprehensive housing scheme, ami in this connection the speaker drew attention to the great work being done in England. Mr Hunt strongly advocated tho formation of a Garden Suburbs Companv on the lines of those existing in England. They should have proper access to the areas suitable for garden suburbs, and he referred to the idea of teenring the land at Feint Hnlswell for the purpose mentioned. He - considered that when the Government placed on the Statute Book the TownPlanning Act, it should itself bo a party to it; otherwise the Act would not serve the purpose intended. No Minister or party should be permitted to do whatever they pleased; otherwise tho citizens would have to put up with such unsightly buildings, as the railway station and the now woollen building in "Whitmore street. It tvould, of course, bo necessary to secure a town-planning expert to administer the Act, and this official should have a free hand, and his services should only bo dispensed with by the will of Parliament. Mr Hunt congratulated the association on the results of the recent municipal elections, ahd expressed gratitude to Mr T. S. Weston for agreeing to stand down from the Mayoral contest, and thus keeping out class administration, of tho city’s affairs. The fact that so many of the association’s candidates had boon successful was moat ■ gratifying. Mr M. F. Luokle deplored tho lack , of foresight shown in the planning of, Wellington. Ho strongly condemned f the policy of voting on unimproved value. ‘ This was economically unsound, and was responsible for the disgraceful state of affairs existing. Under this system a small land-owner was compelled for reasons of economy to build houses on his land, and this materially brought about. congestion in the living areas of the city. Referring to tho recent elections, Mr Luokie criticised ' tho association for nob putting forward a full ticket, and he strongly advised that in future tho association should show more activity in connection with future elections. Mr ,H. F. von Haast suggested that the association would receive more support if it separated the town-plan-ning side of the association from municipal politics. Other speakers, including Mr K. A. ■Wright, M.P., advocated more activity in connection with politics. Mr Wright thought more attention should • he paid to tho rolls, which were, unfortunately, not hy any means complete. This was a very important factor in connection with the association’s future. The election of officers resulted as follows:—President, Mr A. Leigh Hunt; vice-presidents, Messrs Carwell Cooke, T. S. Weston, T. Ballinger; seven members of tho committee, Messrs H. Mainland, H. D. Bennett, F. Moadowcroft, £. C. Jack, H. W. Tolan, B. C. South, W. Page; secretary, Mr J. L. Arcus; assistant secretary, Mr H. E. Hothersill; auditor, Mr EJ. W. Hunt. On the motion of Air Weston, tho president and officers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. A vote of thanks was accorded tho entertainers, who comprised tho following:—Messrs W. W. Crawford, Hamilton, Fraser-Xhompaon, H. F. Wood, and the Rev. W. A. Hunt.