PLUNKET NURSE SOCIETY.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 June 1919, Page 4

PLUNKET NURSE SOCIETY.

TOWN PLANNING —MOVEMENT. "

On Thursday, June 1-2, a xneeting of the Committee of the Plunkct Society was held to hear the report «of Mrs Studholme on the I‘ecent»Town Planning Conference held in Wellington, Mrs Studholme was the oflicial representative of the\local branch of the Society at the Conference, and the information she was able to give was both practical and intel'esEing.

The olguxnisation of the Conferencrefl and of the associated exhibition of pie. tures bearing on the subjects dealt with, had been eanried out by the Grow ernxnent under the Hon. G. \V. Russell. It was a Dominion-wide movement, over 259 delegates from all the principal centres and from many 01? the smaller towns being present, and great interest was shown. It ‘is antieia pated that the outcome will be both‘ vital and far-reaching.

The conference was opened on May‘ 10, by the Governor, who spoke of the urgency for the betterment. of many living conditions, especially in View of ma.tters revealed by the late epidemic. } The Mayor of Wellington then welcomed the delegates to the city, anflv subsequently many speakers, including the Mayor of Christchurch, Hon. G. \V. Russell and Hon. Arthur Myers gave the scheme their full support. The objects of the movement and of the Conference were to discuss papers on the principles of town- , planning and housing, prepared by experts on the subject; to inquire into’, the causes of evils. which have hitherto been regarded as inevitable in our city pcor quarters; to obtain ideas from garden cities in other parts of the world that might be adapted to our requirements; to learn what was being done in the devastat.ed portions of Belgium and ‘Northern France, and in the building and reconstruction of towns andei-ties. in Britain. the United. States, and other countrixes. Mlany ‘-of our towns are the result of chance more than or purpose, and improper condi-tions-have almost of necessity arisen; the present is an efiort towards ‘.‘the. conscious ordering of cities ‘~ of their. social, sconomic, anti civil growth.” ,With regard to the fin~anci'al side, it was said to be the Governments purpose to assist where necessary. ’ While the responsibility for the reconstruction of slum areas and the creating of parks and open spaces must rest primarily with the residents of the dis—trict, the Hon. G. W. Russell foreslnadowed monetary help to the smaller towns and those less able to shoulder the burden. Legislation will probabl_-,-be shortly enacted to further. the @- jects of the movement. A committee has carefully consi‘del'ed the forming of a Town Planning and Housing Bill, in _) which is included a scheme for the formation of a commission of experts in architecture, engineering, survey; and public health. Thus it is? hoped that the future of the Dominion’s living problems may be so ordered aster eliminate, as far as possible, causes of poverty, sickness, and ignorance. » Mrs Studliolme dealt with many other matters relating to the conference. and on the motion of the Mayoress, was warmly thanked for her interest and efforts. T’ ‘