PARLIAMENTARY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10309, 9 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

By Telegraph — Press Association

WELLINGTON, Last Night. THE LATE MR FRASER. In the Houso of Representatives this evening, Sir James Carroll made sympethetic reference to the death of Mr Eraser, ex-M.L.C, and moved a resolution recording appreciation of his pnublic services, and sympathy with his family, which was carried in silence. WANGANUI SCHOOL SITES. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill (Hon. G. Fowlds) was read a second time.

TOWN-PLANNING BILL. Tho Hon. G. Fowlds moved the second reading of his Town-Planning Bill. Tho general principles of the measure, he said„ followed on the lines of the Bill introduced in England by Mr John Burns, and provided for the planning of areas held by two or three local bodies. The Board to be constituted under tho Bill was for supervising the scheme promoted by any local body. Its main duty was to give the benefit of its experience and advice. He hoped the House would give the Bill its serious and careful consideration. Mr Fisher said the Bill should be referred to every local body, and the expert opinion of their Engineers should bo obtained before the measure was placed on the Statute Book. He asked the Minister to refer the Bill to a Committee, to get expert evidence. Mr Myers supported the Bill, which he said could not be put into . force too soon. He thought the Minister was wrong, however, in applying the Bill only to places outsido present cities. The Hon. Mr Fowlds informed.Mr Myers that he did not propose to seperato town areas from the provisions of the Bill, although this could, he done later if desired. Mr Myers suggested bringing out from Britain or the Continent an artistic town-planner. Mr Luke congratulated the country on having such a Minister as Mr Fowlds in charge of matters of this description. He said he would not support the building up of a Board consisting of Civil' Servants. Mr ' McLaren ' deplored the conditions obtaining in slum areas, and hoped the Bill under consideration would tend to alter the unsavory and evil state of affairs existing in those parts of the cities. Ho appreciated to the full tho importance of the Bill, and considered a sound foundation should be laid for such a measure. Mr Poole moved the adjournment of tho debate, and the House rose at 10.50 p.m.