TOWN PLANNING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10604, 1 June 1920, Page 5

TOWN PLANNING

PROGRESS OF PAST YEAR LOCAL ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL REVIEW. The annual- meeting of the Greater Wellington Town-Planning and Municipal Electors' Association was held at the Dominion Farmers' Institute last evening, .the president, Air A. Leigh Hunt, occupying the chair. Delegates were present representing, the following bodies: —Hutaitai, Roseneath, Island Bay, ..Lyall Buy,. Melrose and Voeeltown "Electors' Associations, Onslow Progressive Association, and the Te Aro Advancement Association, the Women's National Reserve of New Zealand, tho Now Zealand Welfare League, the Wellington Harbour Board, the Frojp-ess League, and the National Council of, 'Women. During the evening sevoral musical items were rendered, and! a series of cinema pictures taken in and around the city were screened.

I The annual report stated that. 0110 1 of tho most s&rious problems of year had been finance. The balancesheet showed that at the commencement of the year the association had sot out with a debit balance. An endeavour had been, made to raise a fund of £IOOO, but this was unsuccessful. The sum raised by subscriptions and donations had been augmented by tho sum of £27 17s Id received,from the trustees of the Reade-Davidge Lecture Fund and £6S from the trustees of the. Greeley Lukin Fund. Considering that tho organising secretary, typist*, and canvasser had been paid in full and sundry expenses such, as office rent, etc., had been met, the executive felt that even though they closed the "year with a debit balance of £SO odd. the association had no reason to be pessimistic. The association now possessed the nucleus of a very good town-planning lending library. A good selection ot works on town-planning had been secured, supplemented by many, reports from various countries. An immense amount of data on toivn-plaiming and housing was already available and much more was expected from tho united States, Canada and England at an early date. Members were invitcfl to make use oi this library, which will bo formed in the association's office in tho Dominion Farmers' Building. TOWN-PLANNING ACT WANTED. Tho president, in moving the adoption of the annual report, said that until the community had legal townplanning authority it was more or less beating the air; the association wanted public support so as to secure a Town-Planning Act. He regretted that members of Parliament had not shown a great deal of interest in connection with the scheme. It was also necessary to have an expert townplanner, and he advocated the securing of the best man that could be found to fill the position. It was hard to realise that such wretched hovels existed in Wellington as had boon illustrated that night. It was deplorable. Unfortunately, if the Go■vernment was relied upon to rectify these things, they would have to wait a long time. He proposed to invite during the coming session a number of M.P.'s, particularly members from the country, to accompany members of the association on a tour of the city, so that they could see for themselves tho conditions that existed in various parts of tho city. Mr Hunt emphasised the need for a public utility society, to control the number of houses that were built to the acre. Tho Government had voted millions of money for the erection,of houses, he thought that if a public utility society was in existence, tff spend that money on the lines laid, down under tho housing scheme in England, it would be of very great advantage to the country. That was the main point the association desired to impress upon the Government during the cOmnig session. Dealing with the need for the demarcation of the cities, Mr Hunt explained how, under this system, they would be divided into separate -residential, industrial, and business areas. He would urge the incoming committee to urge the City Council to demarcate the city; he was sure that if it was. taken up it would be the beginning of a new era. The president said that if it had done nothing else during tho year it had made progress in moulding tho minds of the public in regard to"town-planning. The adoption of the report was seconded by Mr H. C. South, who advocated the creation of a good civic spir T it in regard to town-planning. It was time the people of Wellington realised that the association was out to place Wellington in its proper place, and put it in a good civic position. _ The report was adopted. CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION. Mr H. F. \on Haast read a report upon the .proposed amended constitution of the association. It was proposed to altor the name of the association , to "The Greater Wellington Town-Planning. Association." Most of the clauses were of a machinery nature. Tile motion of the adoption of tho revised constitution was carried unanimously. OFFICERS FOP THE YEAR, The election of officers for tho ensuing vear resulted as follows: —Pre-' sident," Mr A. L. Hunt (re-elected) ; vice-presidents, Dr. D. E. PlattsMills and Mr F. Meadowcroft; raembors of the executive, Messrs B. C. Jack, H. C. South, and J. R. Salt; hon. treasurer, Mr J. L. Aneus; auditor,. Mr E. W. Hunt,