Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, JULY 11, 1938. PLANNING FOR TOMORROW.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1938, Page 6

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, JULY 11, 1938. PLANNING FOR TOMORROW.

AJN announcement made recently that a. town planning scheme for Masterton is on the point of being completed no doubt will be welcomed by, all who desire to see the town develop and progress to the best advantage as time goes on. As yet, with a’ few creditable exceptions, town planning has made little headway in New Zealand, and regional planning, which is even more important, remains in abeyance. It may be hoped, however, that before long the orderly planning of both urban and rural development will get the practical attention it ought to have been given many years ago. The preparation of a town planning scheme in Masterton does not imply, of course, any immediate attempt to recast existing street lines, the location and character of buildings and so forth. The essential object, no doubt, will be to control future building and development, with a view to ensuring the best and most effective use of land in commercial, residential and other areas. From a standpoint of simple economy, not to speak of other considerations, there are even better reasons for planning a town, though this can only mean now in Masterton a policy of more or less gradual improvement, than there are for planning' the buildings of various kinds which find a place within the urban limits. On strictly practical grounds, it is very necessary that account should be taken of inevitable future developments where transport and other branches of activity are concerned. The period is already well in sight when Masterton will have to take action, in providing additional parking places for motor transport and in other ways, or expect to come to a rather hopeless deadlock where transport is concerned. At the present day, Queen Street not infrequently is taxed almost to capacity and before long orderly and organised measures clearly will have to be taken to avert an impossible congestion of traffic. Some fears are entertained that town planning may entail interference with the rights and liberty of action of property-owners in the future development and, utilisation of their property, but the essence of planning is to make the’ best and niost profitable use that is possible of all ■ parts of the total areas concerned. Restrictions of course are enforced where a town is zoned into commercial, residential and other areas, but the only alternative is to permit a course 'of haphazard development which often enough reacts ruinously on property values. The preparation of a town planning scheme for Masterton will be a first step towards ensuring a thoroughly effective and economical use of all the land the borough contains and also towards directing- development of all kinds in such a manner as best to safeguard and promote the interests of the whole community.