TOWN PLANNING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 256, 21 June 1932, Page 6

TOWN PLANNING

NOT A LUXURY : DIRECTOR DISAPPOINTED AT ATTITUDE IN N.Z. MR. J. W. MAWSON AT ROTARY. The speakev at yestardny's m>ot- ; ing of th:1 Rotorua Rotary ff "ii?j wa v thn Dimdor tii' Y»wn Pluitnhig, M •*. J. W. who in ti * * 'jursc? of n n intcr ealing" addiew*, ( on soriH* uopular uic-as nf th* rii'opi* arai application oi' i> :«vn- plami', ng. It ivas, the Director pointed out, not a luxury but an economic safeguard against waste. In opening his address Mr. Mawson said that it was always pleasing and satisfactory to tallc to Rotary members, remarking, with a smile, that one advantage was that at least he was assured of an audience. On a previous occasion when he had addressed a public nieeting in Rotorua, he had spoken at length to a member of the press and one member of the community (laughter). Taking his subject more seriously Mr. Mawson said that when talking to Rotary members he was assured of an audience who would sinlc their sectional, religious and political inclinations, in an effort to do what they could for the benefit of their district. The speaker spoke highly of what Rotary had done for town planning, taking a more active part than perhaps any other o-'ganirr.lion. The initiative t.nkcn bv Rotary, and its aims and obiects wero very similar to the principle of town planning. "Disappointing." Mr. Mawson then explained that he had come to New Zealand four years ago on a five year contract to the Government, for the purpose of town-planning. He had expected only to have to administer an Act of Parliament already on the Statute Boolc, but had found the situation very different and disappointing. He had to commence by doing all the missionary work of the scheme, which in the first place meant the undoing of the mischief of many years committed by misguided enthusiasts. The general impression of town planning was that it constituted the laying out of town squares, parks, etc., but this was not so. Town planning was principally an economic subject. The public considered town planning a luxury, whereas it was really the essence of economy and good government. It provided a means by which money could be saved. It meant the laying down of a policy of orderly and systematic growth of a town. Its function was as an efficient and economic unit. Commonsense. Mr. Mawson said that nvry- , eot 1« described his ideas as radical, but he pointed out that all he preached was commonsense and economy. Mr. Mawson also referred to the dangers of land speculation which he described as one of the greatest handicaps to the country's progress. Through it a country might take as long as 50 years to recover from the bad efi'ects of speculation. New Zealand, he said, was full of speculation, and as a result the industries, especially the primary industries, were suffering to-day through over capitalisation and land prices.