TOWN-PLANNING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10612, 10 June 1920, Page 8

TOWN-PLANNING

“A PRACTICAL MOVEMENT” HON- C. J- PARR ADDRESSEE DOMINION CONFERENCE!. In opening the conference of the New Zealand Town-Planning Association and kindred societies yesterday, tho Hon. C. J. Parr, Minister for Education, who is also president of tho Now Zealand Association, had something of interest to say. Mr Parp welcome the delegates, and regretted that the Auckland delegates had been prevented from attending owing to the floods. Mr J. L. Arcus was attending for Auckland, in formally opening the conference Mr Parr said that town planning was of the greatest importance at the present time. During the past two years a groat deal of spade work had been done, and at the conference last year the Hon. G. W. Russell, then Minister for Internal Affairs, had promised support to a Town-Planning Hill. He felt sure that the present Minister, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, would agree to the legislation they desired, aa a movement in tho right direction, and it was proposed to meet him soon and ley before him the reasons for legislation on this most important question. Last year’s conference had a marked educative effect. For the first time it W'UA brought homo to the members of Parliament that town planning was a practical movement, and the association had pledges from a large number of members to support reasonable legislation, in that direction. AN EXPERT NEEDED.

The Minister stressed the point that (hq bill should be put into such shape as to -give it a reasonable opportunity of passing. Thev wished to embody the creation, of a Town-Planning Department and the employment of an expert of eminence as town planner for the Dominion. Also he urged that there should he no attempt to force action on local bodies ’ the department should co - operate, not over-ride local bodies. He held ihat legislation should be of a permissive, and not a compulsory character. Of course, where action was imperatively needed some compulsion, would be necessary, but they hoped the local bodies would be their own town-planners. New Zealand lagged far behind in this matter. In Australia two States alreadv had .TownPlanning Departments. While m the older countries they were far ahead of this part of tho world. NO EXPENSIVE MACHINERY.

Mr Parr said it should be made clear that no expensive machinery was necessary, £2OOO to £3OOO per year should be sufficient for the first few years, and tho importance of the work warrants such small expenditure. In all the matters coming under town-planning, housing, health, lay-out of suburbs, etc., the department could assist the country greatly. He hoped they could convince the public of the necessity for townplanning legislation, and promised to brine the matter as forcibly ns possible before his fellow members of the Cabinet. , . . , . The Minister, at the conclusion of his address, had to leave the conference, owing to public business, but before he loft a motion congratulating him on Lis elevation to Cabinet rank was carried by acclamation.