CHANGED OPINIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 967, 9 May 1930, Page 11

CHANGED OPINIONS

REGIONAL PLANNING W COUNTRY ADDRESS BY DIRECTOR From Our Own Correspondent HAMILTON, Thursday. The committee inquiring: into regional boundaries in the Waikato district surrounding - Hamilton met in Hamilton yesterday to take evidence from local body representatives and others interested. Mr. S. Blackley presided, and with him were Mr. J. W. Mawson Director of Town-Planning:. Mr. H. E. Walshe, Surveyor-General, and Mr. A. Bogle, representative of the Town-Planning Board of the Sur- \ eyors’ Institute. An address on regional planning was given by Mr. Mawson and evidence was taken as to suitab.e boundaries tor the Hamilton area. Special areas for the King Country. Thames Valley and Rotorua were advocated by delegates. Mr. Blackley said there was a good deal of misconception regarding the objects of the Act. Opinions had been expressed that its provisions would be of no value to counties. He assured his hearers that after a tour of the South Island and portions of the North Island he had completely changed his mind, and he was now convinced that the time was more than ripe for rural local authorities to embrace the advantages offered under the Act. AREA FOR HAMILTON Mr. Mawson said the object of the scheme was to promote decentralisation, and to increase the status of local bodies. The purpose of the meeting was to secure evidence which would assist in determining the area relating: to Hamilton, as the principal centre in which there was a community of social and economic interest. It was not the function of the committee to fix boundaries. Mr. C. Boles, Mayor of Taumarunui, a aid Taumarunui had no community of interest with either Wanganui or New Plymouth, and suggested that Taumarunui should be associated with the Hamilton region, or should be made the centre of a separate or King Country area. Mr. G. A. Stanton, Taumarunui, suggested that the Is r o. 6 Highways District, comprising the counties of Waitomo, Kawhia and Otorohanga, with Te Kuiti as the centre, and the counties of Taumarunui, Ohura and Kaitieke, with Taumarunui as the centre, should be established as separate regions. AFRAID OF COST Mr. Campbell Johnstone (Raglan) opposed the scheme, On the ground that the ratepayers were reluctant to pay any further rates. The county people, he said, were all afraid of how far the scheme would go, and were doubtful whether the advantage would equal the cost. Mr. Blackley said the cost would equal £B3 per £1,000,000 of capital value. Mr. T. Jackson, Mayor of Rotorua, expressed 'appreciation of the proposal, which he said would prevent many mistakes which had been made in the past by local bodies. Mr. R. Coulter (Te ‘Aroha) suggested that a sub-region be established in the Thames Valley area. Mr. W. McPherson said the Morrinsville Borough had community of interest with both the Thames Valley and Hamilton, and it was hard to say where the greatest interest rested. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.P., advocated the establishing of an area with the. boundaries of the No. 6 Highways District. Mr. Broadfoot warmly commended the scheme. “My council instructed me to oppose the regional planning scheme,” said Mr. .C. G. Downes) Mayor of Te Avvamutu, “but after hearing Mr. Mawson no one could fail to be impressed with the advantages of the proposal.” Nevertheless, he added, it was a matter of dotffot whether the final results would compensate the local bodies for the costs involved.

The meeting was adjourned until tomorrow.