PLANNING THE CITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 681, 5 June 1929, Page 6

PLANNING THE CITY

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION’S WORK PUBLIC APATHY DEPLORED Considerable progress toward its objective was claimed for the Auckland Town-Planning Association by Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, president, at the annual meeting last evening. He based his view on the large number of schemes submitted to the organisation for approval in the past year. TN deprecating public apathy toward A town-planning, he confessed that this attitude was to be expected as there had been little knowledge of the subject in the Dominion until the last few years. The obligations imposed upon local bodies by the Town-Plan-ning Act-, 1906, were not fully appreciated. “Unfortunately neither the Act nor the regulations have Aiven a very, clear lead in the right direction,” he declared in his report. “Thus at the outset the association was confronted ■ with a serious difficulty, in that it was committed to a proportionary policy that had not been generally recognised as desirable, and which must meet with considerable opposition since it involves an entirely new point of view, demanding radical changes in the customary processes of local government.” Many weaknesses in the Act had became evident during its two years’ operation, the report continued. With a view to amendment of the legislation, the association’s technical group had made investigations, and had submitted recommendations to Dr. Mawson, Director of Town-Planning, with whose views the suggestions coincided. WORK OF GROUPS Appreciative reference was made to the work of the six groups appointed by the association, comprising the Technical, Publicity, Housing and Parks and Reserves Groups, and the Volcanic Hills and the Social Committees. The Technical Group and the Volcanic Hills Committee were singled out for special praise, particularly the latter body for data on the volcanic hills of the Auckland Isthmus, which had been published. It was intended early this year to focus the attention of the Parks and Reserves Committee on this important feature of the association’s work. The appointment of Dr. 'W. J. Mawson, New Zealand Director of Town-Planning, was appreciated by the executive, who were confident that the lead for which local authorities had be’en looking would now be supplied. The association had endeavoured to establish closer contact among members by the promotion of social functions, among which the welcome to the Town-Plan-ning Director had been the most successful. ■

Regret was expressed at the defeat at the recent municipal elections of Mr. S. I. Crookes, chairman of the Auckland Town-Planning Department, the opinion being expressed that the city had lost a hard-working and faithful servant. The membership, now standing at 150, having increased by only two, was very disappointing, remarked the president, who admitted there was no likelihood of an increase until the public was educated to the need for townplanning and the economic saving likely to be affected by its proper application. SATISFACTORY FUNDS Financially the asociation had lived within its means. The balance-sheet showed a surplus of accumulated funds amounting to £93. It was apparent, however, that if the association was to advance the funds must be very considerably augmented through increased membership. The report concluded by thanking the Dilworth Trust Board for the use of their rooms for meetings. The report and statement of accounts were adopted without discussion. The services rendered by Mr. E. D. ■Wilkinson, secretary, who for business reasons is resigning, were appreciatively referred to by Mr. G. Hutchison. On his motion it was unanimously decided to record the expression of members, instructions being given to the executive to recognise fittingly Mr. Wilkinson’s work. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as under: President, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth; vice-president, Mr. Geo. Hutchison; executive, Messrs. GL M. Fowlds, G. K. Grierson, T. Bloodw r ortli, E. D. Wilkinson, G. T. Murray, T. C. Webster and M. G. McArthur; lion, auditor, Mr. W. J. A. Thomson.