TOWN-PLANNING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 7

TOWN-PLANNING

THE CONFERENCE VARIOUS IDEAS-ON SUBJECT OP CIVIC im’BOWEMENT. The Town-planning Conference was continued in, the Town Hall yesterday. Dr. Thacker, M.P., Mayor of Christchuroh, presided, At the morning session, Mr 8. HurstSeager delivered a paper on “The Garden City in Eolation to Reconstruction and Repatriation Problems.” Mr Seager said that a garden city combined the advantages of town and country, and prepared the way for a national movement, stemming the tide of population now leaving tho countryside and sweeping into the overcrowded cities. It was surprising to him that Letch-worth-was still the only garden city. In Letchworth was to he found an ideal system of housing, comparable with that which had been formed at Port Sunlight and Bourneville, and, in addition, tho establishment of no less than forty large factories, in which the work was carried on under the most favourable of conditions adjacent to tho homes of the workers. The garden city principle did not state an arbitrary method of new town construction,, but did imply a principle of civic unity, which imposed restriction upon town growth by making provision • for the systematic planning of outer areas to meet the needs of industrial expansion. It might bo , stated as a formula by means of which town-development in general might be subjected to intelligent control that a town should be of a population large enough to allow of efficient, industrial organisation and full social activity, but that it needed to be no larger; that the urban area should be limited to a size requisite to house this population well, and should • be surrounded by a zone of open land large enough to possess a distinctly rural and agricultural character; that the whole of the land, including the urban area, should be owned - and administered in the • interest of the local community. GREATER. PRODUCTION NEEDED. Labour in England had -recognised the great advantages which would accrue from a close association of the industrial and housing problems, and that it was folly to separate the demands of industry for improved manufacturing facilities and of the workers for good houses. It was not sufficiently realised that the over-centralisation of industry was thoroughly unsound from the economic standpoint. Whatever might be the case with the other necessary functions of a capital city and great port, industry pure and simple was carried on at a disadvantage in a city. Garden suburbs, however, did not entirely : meet :Jhe I difficulty, and the position would never be rectified until the Letchworth plan was more generally adopted. . Many, authorities were going further, and advocating small holdings, which could be worked by the-, tenant, in conjunction occasionally with tenants of other holdings, and the establishment, in connection with agriculture, of “village industries”; that was, tine secondary industries, instead of being carried, out by a large number of : wage-earners -in 'an- extensive factory, should he carried out as' far "as possible by the work-people. themselves in their own workshops, in, conjunction with some form of gardening, poultry keeping, fruit growing, or agriculture. That, it was claimed, would -improve on the present factory system, which, although • it had increased enormously the wealth of the country, -had not created any happiness or comfort for the worker. 5 ,,.-All.ihauthorities were agreed that . there must be greater production in the primary industries, and that in all cases secondary industries must, as far as possible, be taken out of the crowded cities, and closely associated with .the work on tih© land. DEVELOPMENT OP NEW TOWNS. Mr Seager referred particularly to Nerw Zealand’s repatriation problems, and said the greatest of these would be to fit ex-service men into some field of labour .where they- could produce most, and also where they could find congenial environments. To his mind it would be essential for some step to be taken to organise the development of new towns or to assist in the extension of existing towns where the men could be provided for. Even those who would want to take up farming would prefer to' do so in close proximity to an existing city or town, where intensive culture was practicable and better social facilities could bo obtained. Letchworth should act as an example to New Zealand in the solving of a largo portion of the problems of the returned soldiers. Snob a scheme involved , artificial organisation to get it started,’ but one of the objects of that artificial/ organisation would be to develop a town in which there would be the fullest public freedom for natural growth and individual initiative. It was not advisable, however, that any scheme should he carried out for returned aoldiei-s only, as the segregation of tho soldiers was not at all desirable. Mr Seager quoted the English “Vemey Report,” upon land settlement for sailors and soldiers, in which the need for settlements of a general and not. purely agricultural type was urged. Expert advice and guidance should be available to the men so settled. 1 The question of ownership as against tenancy in these settlements was one which ' had been discussed fully’ in England, where the committee appointed had decided in favour of tenancy both from tho point of view of the State and tho small holder, the latter benefiting particularly on account of the mobility allowed him by not being tied down by ownership. Further, tenants under a public authority were practically secure against arbitrary eviction and raising of rent. LAND FOR INDUSTRIES. The personal equation had been held by tho English authorities to be the most important factor in the success 6f small holdings, and the committee had urged the need for some preliminary training for inexperienced men. Further, it. was urged that there should be a resident director on each colony formed -by the S,tato, the director be-ing-responsible for the management of the estate while formed as a wnole, for supervising tho instruction of the settlers during their initial period of training, and for advising the small holders as to the cultivation- of tbeir holdings, tho purchase of their requirements, ard the disposal of ■ their produce. Collective marketing and special facilities for securing implements were advocated. “Tho scheme as I regard it should comprise sufficient land for all primary and secondary industries, which are required for tho support and comfort of tho stated number of inhabitants (ho said in conclusion). It should, u»

fact, be perfectly self-contained. W e have for too long been thinking ot crowing and manufacturing lor others. Should we not now pay more attention to growing and manufacturing for ourselves? Wo cannot but view with alarm the endeavours made by countries to secure customers. All countries consider that the solution of their industrial problems is tho increasing of production in order that sales may bo effected; but it is obvious that when all countries are setting to work to produce, and on a large scale manufacture for foreign markets, .there ‘will bo a vast amount of material produced, for which there will be uo customers. Is it not, therefore, necessary that we should arrange our social organisations in such a way that we may be able to give every worker all the comforts of life without depending upon ioreign customers and without depending upon foreign salesmen? To establish him, in fact, in self-contained garden villages and cities, where he can work m onobling environments of -life in a manner which will enable him and . his family to live, in comfort and happinMS ’DELEGATES- OPINIONS.

During tho discussion on the uaper, Mr J. L. Salmond said that it would be well to improve existing conditions before new cities were tackled. in New Zealand the cities were yet young, and there was room tor the improvements he had in mind. Mr C. J. Reakes, Director-General of" Agriculture, said that to meet the cost of the war New Zealand must look to its producing side, but to a certain extent communities could be established, as proposed. . . Mr M. J. Reardon said that local bodies had not in the past taken full advantage of their opportunities. Mr W. T. Lester (Lyttelton) said that this fault could not be laid against all local authorities, and he agreed that the General Government should not bo allowed to take the power away from tno local authorities. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Christchurch) said that action, as well as discussion, was needed. .. ~ . Mr Hui Gore thought, the elements of town-planning might bo mculcated in the school children. Mr H. Holland (Qhnstcmfrch) expressed the opinion that little progress would bo made unless the Government was prepared to remove the duty on building- material. Insanitary houses should he destroyed and replaced by up-to-date bungalows. . Mr G. Dixon (Hawera) said that in his town-it had-been decided to cut up ■the land for workers’, houses, but unless tho Government advanced money at a reasonable rate there would bo a grave difficulty. THE VIEWS OF WOMEN.

Mr C. R. Ford (Wanganui) touched on the subject of accommodation for unmarried people. In ’■some countries boardinghouses with all the comforts of a good hotel were being erected. Mrs T. E. Taylor, sppko of patters of interest; to womem and children', The whole question of town-planning, she said, deeply concerned women and children. Any proposal was not complete if it did not take into' account first and foremost the woman’s point of view. In all plans for community well-being provision for women and children should be made. It was not realised as it should be how difficult it was for any woman to do what was expected >: of- ; her .(.as- a wife.;,; and a. a. mother under modem conditions.' Tho community itself if it valued its existence must,come to the assistance of the mother.. The whole remedy for this could not bo found in a townplanning scheme, but much could bo done by providing creches and kindergartens in which a mother would know that her children were-well cared for. Mrs W. R. Don read a paper which had been peepared: by Mrs Jessie, Field, of Nelson-.- The writer favoured tho establishment of, public recreation grounds as public peace memorials, the funds to bd provided by the local bodies, with perhaps, State and private help. Mrs Don urged that the conference- should consider a suggestion that public recreation rooms should be opened and maintained as a public peace memorial. Replying to discussion which followed) his paper, Mr Hurst Seager said ' that it had been remarked that garden’ towns could not be prepared for the repatriation of soldiers. This showed a misconception, as he had thought that the returned soldiers should undertake the foundation of these places, working under the direction of experts. They would prepare a groundwork on which prosperous and happy centres would he built. The improvement of existing towns was quite another matter. Speaking in tho evening, the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) said that tho prime consideration in the study of housing should bo the health of the people. During tho wax it had been found that there had been a considerable proportion of recruits rejected as unfit for military service. This revealed unsatisfactory conditions as to housing, medical care and dental 'attention; When New Zealand paid more attention to housing and to hygiene it would raise its health standard more quickly. He favoured the establishment of small holdings on which people could produce part of the food they required. A “picture” show illustrating various points made by town-planners was held in the evening after the speech of the Minister. Tho conference will be continued today.