“ON WITH THE BUSINESS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 670, 23 May 1929, Page 13

“ON WITH THE BUSINESS”

REGIONAL TOWN PLANS NEW DIRECTOR’S SCHEME “As far as I am concerned I am ready 1 to let the dead bury their dead and get on with the business,” said Mr. J. W. Mawson, Director of Town Planning, who addressed 50 representatives of 19 local bodies of Greater Auckland in the Town Hall council chamber yesterday afternoon. The conference was convened by the director, at whose invitation the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. George Baildon, was appointed to the chair. “There is a strong public opinion for the formation of a master plan for the planning of this city,” said Mr. Mawson. “Auckland and the suburbs might learn a lot from the city of New York. I am convinced that there is marked similarity of the problems affecting the two towns on account of their geographical similarity. -There is great affinity of economic and social questions, and the only difference is of degree.” Instancing what might be saved through wise and judicious planning, the speaker mentioned that between IS7I and 192 S the city of Chicago had been involved in rebuilding and reconstruction costing 225 million dollars. A sound argument for regional planning was the saving in economic waste,' the speeding up of traffic and tlie safety of pedestrians. TWO PROPOSALS After speaking at length on Californian legislation in respect to regional planning, Mr. Mawson suggested that: •'Without prejudice to the liberty of action of ths local authorities here represented, this conference is of opinion that the ipajor problems and the physical development of the Auckland region are not capable of intelligent, economical or adequate solution exceptby the preparation of a thorough survey of existing conditions and tendencies, and a master plan which will permit of the co-ordination and co-rela-tion of all public improvements and utilities which do not begin and terminate within the boundaries of a single local authority and the harmonious development of the region, and that the preparation of such a master plan calls for the closest co-operation between all local authorities and statutory bodies exercising jurisdiction or controlling public utilities and services | within the area to which it relates.” A further proposal was: “This conference recommends to all local authorities within the Auckland region the setting up of a provisional committee at the earliest possible date; that the basis of representation on the provis- j ional committee be two members for il the city and boroughs with a. popula- ■ tion of 10,000 and over and one member for other boroughs, town districts, road boards and counties; that the terms of reference to this provisional committee be to ascertain and report upon (a) the area in respect to which a scheme should be prepared for the Auckland region, (b) the major problems to be dealt with in such scheme, (c) the statutory bodies controlling public utilities and services v/ithin the defined area and any other business or social organisations which ought to be invited to appoint representatives on the permanent committee.” Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, moved, and Mr. L. E. Rhodes, Mayor of Mount Albert, seconded, that Mr. Mawson’s suggestions be approved, subject to confirmation by the local bodies interested. Mr. E. Aldridge, Mayor of Devonport, said that some time ago the local bodies agreed upon the principle of a regional plan for Auckland, but found the constitution of the town-planning committee would be too unwieldy to arrive at practical decisions. He did not believe that even Mr. Tvlawson’s basis of representation would enable the committee to come to any finality. He was certain the City Council would not agree to having only two representative's—no more than the neighbouring boroughs. Mr. Mawson said he was loath to pass any opinion on the harbour bridge scheme without a more intimate local knowledge, but from the academic point of view the first thing that struck him on coming to Auckland was the absolute necessity for establishing some means of bridging the two shores. He would go so far as to say that no townplanning scheme for either the north or south shores of the harbour could be proceeded with until the site of the bridge had been decided upon. The proposals were approved with one or two dissentients.