NEW TOWN-PLANNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 394, 30 June 1928, Page 13

NEW TOWN-PLANNER

MAN OF WIDE EXPERIENCE PROVISIONS OF ACT EXPLAINED Press Association. WELLINGTON, Friday. The Prime Minister, in dealing with the appointment of Mr. J. W. Mawson as Director of Town-Planning, said there had been some comment as to the restrictions in subdivisions in consequence of the provisions of the Town-Planning Act. He intimated that the Act facilitated, rather than hampered, subdivisions in cities, boroughs and town districts, and also subdivisions under the Land Act for building purposes. “It has been suggested,” said Mr. Coates, “that the Town-Planning Act interferes with private rights. “In order to safeguard private interests, provision is contained in the Act giving persons a right to claim compensation where their lands may be injuriously affected by the Townplanning scheme.” WIDE EXPERIENCE

Referring to Mr. Mawson, Mr. Coates said, “He is one of the leading lights in the town-planning world, being a member of the well-known English town-planning firm of Thomas Mawson and Sons, Westminster. He has prepared and carried out town-plan-ning schemes not only in various parts of England, but also in Canada and other parts of the world. He is considered to be one of the leading lecturers on town-planning, and his organising and administrative ability is exceptional. Mr. Mawson spent some two years in the Dominion, from 1908 to 1910, and the principal reason he is now accepting the offer is that he had always intended to return to New Zealand at the earliest opportunity. The appointment, Mr. Coates added, would place town-planning in the Dominion on a sound footing, and would also give opportunity to young New Zealanders to obtain that essential experience in carrying and preparing, under the guidance of Mr. Mawson, town-planning schemes, thus qualifying later to succeed Mr. Mawson in his important position.