TOWN PLANNING.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1920, Page 4

TOWN PLANNING.

INFLUENCE OF WOMEN NEW PLYMOUTH'S HERITAGE. Whilst, speaking at the Women's National Reserve conference on the question of Town Planning, Mrs. Boden, of Wellington, gave some accounts of whafcwas being done in the direction of beautifying localities in the Empire City. The Wellington members of the Reserve were members of the Town Planning Association. The .association had called a number of representanve'womcn together and asked their assistance in the matters concerning the work of the association. This they gladly agreed to give, though there was Some difficulty at first in persuading ihe association to accede to the demand that the \V6men should be represented on every committee of the organisation. The point, however, was eventually conceded, and the idea was found to work out well, there being now two wonje:i on each, of tfte committees of the association. Oris the results of the influence of the women on such a matter was that representations were made to the civic authorities, who are building some hundreds of dwellings, pointing out the mistake of placing these houses so that the full blast of a southerly gale would come right in directly the 'back door was opened,

Mrs. Bodcn also referred to the very useful work being done in beautifying several ugly spots aboi_t Wellington, one particularly bad place being opposite the public hospital.

Another matter being taken up at the instance of the women in .this, organisation is the insanitary condition and lack of proper conveniences in school playing grounds. The importance of this it being prominently brought under the notice of women in all districts, and they are be-ing urged to see that the conditions are improved.

Referring to New Plymouth, Mrs. Boden eulogised the forethought of the authorities in preserving the native buflh for scenic and recreative purposes, and also spoke in high appreciation of the public spirit of those private citizens who own valuable scenic properties in throwing them open to the public. Speaking from a wide experience, Mrs. Boden said she knew of no other town in the Dominion which was so richly endowed as New Plymouth in the- matter of native beauty spots and public parks, all of which were so well cared for.