THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10612, 10 June 1920, Page 5

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

TOWN-PLANNERS CONFER NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION AND KINDRED SOCIETIES. AN EXPERT DESIRED. A conference of the New Zealand Town-Planning Association ami kindred societies was held yesterday in the Dominion Fanners’ Institute building. The Hon. C. J. Pair, G.M.G., president, of the New Zealand association, presided in the early stages and his remarks are reported elsewhere. The delegates from different bodies were: Auckland Town-Planning Association. Messrs AV. H. Gunnc, 'A.R.1.8.A., and F. E. Powell, C.E.; Napier Thirty Thousand Club, Mr AV. P. Alitchcll: Gisborne Municipal Council. Councillor L. Alirfield; Now Plymouth Beautifying Society, Air C. D.- Lightband; Palmerston North Citizens’ League. Mr M. 11. Oram; Nelson, Air J. Stranchon; Canterbury Progress League. Air J. E- Mannings; Masterton. Air AV. Kemp; Otago Expansion League, Alossrs C. Todd and AV. S. AA’ilson; AA r ellington. TownPlanning Association, Air A. Leigh Hunt; Central Progress League, Colonel Mitchell, Ai.P-; Hastings TownPlanning Association, Air J. P. Luke, AI.P.; New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, Air J. Stranchon; executive, Messrs B. Canvell Cooke and AV. AI. Page. At the conclusion of the Minister's address he left, and Air A. L. Hunt was voted to the chair.

Mr Hunt expressed tho hope that the conference members -would take ideas back to their several organisations. and that good progress would bo tho result. In Wellington they felt they had hud the foundations of a live society. New Zealand was undoubtedly botiind-hand in town-planning, and ho felt they could not do better than follow the example of the Old Country. Here 37 members had pledged themselves to support a Town-Plan-ning Act, and the conference should indicate to the Government that the Town-Planning Act must he put through Parliament tins session. A Town-Planning Department was necessary, and a. Town-Planning- Commission, so that differences between an expert and local bodies winch may arise could be settled by appeal to the commission. Mr. Hunt hoped that such town-planner as may be appointed would bo placed in an independent position. He would have a difficult task, as he would have to suggest, to local bodies tho course they should take, and also to see that large areas would be cut up and planned properly. Consequently ho must he a strong man and would have to be strongly backed up and entirely outside political control. Mr Hunt stressed also the need for co-ordination between Government departments and town-planning ideals, < and suggested that local town-planning hoards ° would ho necessary because they must get into closer touch with the people than would be possible for the commission. Such boards, of course, could not do more than Initiate a scheme which would go before the town-planner or commission for approval. He also suggested that .two representatives of the ratepayers should be elected to such hoards. A resolution embodying these suggestions was passed by the meeting. RESOLUTIONS CARRIED. The conference then considered certain resolutions passed at the last conference, which wore to be embodied in the bill. It was resolved that the principles of town-planning should be applied to New Zealand, and schemes prepared without delay, the Act to include that there he a TownPlanning and Housing Department and an expert town-planner appointed the department to Itavo supervision over all town-planning schemes. The following resolutions were car-

‘‘That, it is advisable to appoint a Central . Town-Planning Commission, to consist of the town-pi an per and four other experts in engineering, architecture, surveying, and public health.” .. . '‘That the town-planner should be a competent and experienced town-plan-ner with a salary that would enable the Dominion to obtain the services of n first-class man who has had actual experience, both in tmwi-plannmg schemes and garden .cities, and who 19 recognised hy civic authorities as a town-planner of eminence.” A discussion took place on the cessitv for co-operation between Government departments and local bodies, and it was resolved to ask that where local bodies adopted the provisions of the Act the State should conform to the conditions also in that area. The recommendations that the total cost of tho Town-Planning Department, including the salary of a town-planning expert, should be paid by the Dominion Government, was approved. . - QUESTION OF COMPULSION.

’ Arising out of the discussion as to tho necessitv for ‘some measure of compulsion if tho bill was to bo effective, Messrs Strauchon, Pago and Hunt wero appointed a sub-committee to draft certain resolutions covering these matters. The following were proposed : Every borough, town or district, with a population of over 2000 shaft be a town-planning area. Two or more adjoining boroughs or town districts with a total population of 2000 should be a town-planning urea. Adjacent lands may be declared to form part of that area bv the Govern-, mont on the. recommendation of tho Town-Planning Commissfon. Any other area may he declared a town-planning area hy the GovernorGeneral on the recommendation of tho commission or hy tho request of local authorities.

Every local town-planning honid shall consist r>F representatives of thu several boroughs, counties, and town districts coin prised in the town-nlan-ning area appointed by local authorities of these districts. Two other persons. Vane; ratepayers within the town-planning area., to be elected by the ratepayers within that area: elections to be held at the same time as the elections of the principal local authority within the area. It shall he the duty of the local town-plan nine: board to prepare n scheme dealing with the essential features of development of the district bn town-planning lines, within 12 months after the date of its establishment; all such schemes to he submitted to the Town-Planning Department for approval. Shomd such Tovn-Plan-nine Department fail to nropare a twheme within two years._ then after three, months' notice of its intention to do so. the Central Commission shall draft a scheme and compel such local

town-planning hoard to carry the same into effect. Until such scheme is adopted, then no more work shall ho undertaken of a character as determined hr the commission without Its approval. .Some discussion took place over tho last clause, Colonel Mitchell and Mr Palmer pointing out the difficulties of compulsion and the long delay which would necessarily occur "before any such scheme could ho put into operation.

The conference passed the resolutions, it being felt that the compulsory clause was necessary, hut it would he unlikely to have carry it out, as if the local authorities came cinder tlu> Act they would then wish to develop on town-planning lines. It was arranged that a deputation should wait- upon the Minister for Internal Affairs on Urldav, if possible, and lav the \iews of tho conference before, him.