The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1920. TOWN PLANNING.
The recent annual meeting of the Hawera Town Planning Society, apart from the record of good work accomplished during ithe year, served the useful purpose of emphasising the need for a definite policy— whether societies of that kind should be merely educative and suggestive, or take an active part in the work which is the reason for their existence. There is ample scope for activity in both directioris, and the Hawera Society did good work in holding garden competitions, challenge cups being competed for in the larger and smaller garden classes, while various improvements were, taken in hand, and public addresses given. In the department of beautifying towns these societies can he of great service, but planning must be the work of the municipality. To be of real service these societies must be largely supported and backed up by the public so as to he in a position to influence the controlling authorities. Their sphere of operations will necessarily be chiefly directed to propaganda work, but there are many ways in which they can help. Obviously little can be accomplished without adequate funds, so that if the people of any .town are in earnest over this important work they should rally round the Town Planning Societies and raise the requisite finances. Appiarently the most likely method of successfully carrying out ithe work would be for each municipality interested in this progressive action to appoint a town-planning committee to act' in conjunction with representatives of the society, so that there may be unity of purpose and a direct stimulus given to improvements being carried out when and where possible. By mutual and co<p£etaUoa
much can he achieved and friction avoided, while suitable by-laws could be arranged ito fit in with the endeavor to effect the necessary reforms and developments. Citizens are apt to take offence at any suggestions to interfere with their property, so thait part of the work of these societies must necessarily be educative, and the larger the number of members enrolled the easier should be the task. Mr. Spratt put the position fairly at Hawera, when he said that with town planning they had. to get down to hard facts, >to study local conditions, and to bring them within the comprehension of the ordinary man. He might wall have added that town, planning was a valuable asset, as well as an appreciable factor in health and property values. Wherever land is cut up for residential purposes, an ideal opportunity is presented for town-planning and beautifying. It should be the' aim of the societies to closely watch itheae opportunities and bring the weight of their influence to bear on the local authorities to insist on the roads being laid out and the building lines fixed with a view to fitting in with the best principles of townplanning. There is nothing so appealing as an effective object lesson, and these town-planning societies would find their work greatly helped by concentrating their efforts on some spot that would serve ithe purpose, and demonstrating what can be made of it. By co-operating with the local authority and by enlisting the support of-.the citizens these societies can be of great service to the community.
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Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1920, Page 4
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540The Daily News. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1920. TOWN PLANNING. Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1920, Page 4
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