THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1927. TOWN PLANNING.

Wairarapa Age, 4 March 1927, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1927. TOWN PLANNING.

A matter that should receive early attention here as well as in other parts •'of the Dominion is that Of giving effect to the Town Planning Act of last session. The Municipal Conference, at its recent meeting, made no very helpful contribution to the discussion of tthis question, but it is open to individual boroughs to make good and effective use of their powers under the new legislation. There appears to be a danger that town planning may be given a slow and difficult start in this country simply because its advantages are not commonly known, and understood. There have been some suggestions by members of local bodies and others that town planning involves heavy expenditure, or even fanciful extravagance, but any such suggestion will fall to the ground as soon as it is fairly examined.

Town planning has one of its strongest claims to consideration in the fact that it is a potent means of saving money and avoiding waste and extravagance. This is true not only where municipal administration is concerned, but with regard to the development and. use of private property. Land is never put to more profitable use than when it is cut up and developed in accordance with a well-considered town planning scheme. These facts will become familiar as enterprising municipalities apply town planning principles to the areas under their control, but Masterton certainly should nqt be content to be listed, in this matter or any other, with backward boroughs which have to be dragged along at the heels of their more progressive contemporaries. Something really definite should be heard about the local application of town planning befoye the municipal elections fall due next month.