TOWN PLANNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1938, Page 8

TOWN PLANNING

BOROUGH COUNCIL SCHEMES MINISTER DEPLORES “RIBBON” DEVELOPMENT MODEL CLAUSES NEARING COMPLETION (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Several matters of interest were dealt with at a meeting of the Town Planning Board, held in Wellington yesterday, over which Mr T. Jordan, Mayor of Masterton, and president of the Municipal Association, presided in the absence of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon W. E. Parry. In a statement forwarded by the minister, gratification was expressed by Mr Parry that four borough councils bad decided to prepare schemes fo 1 their districts and that substantial progress was being made in the preparation of a number of other schemes. The Minister expressed the opinion that the great majority of towns in New Zealand were deplorably deficient in recreation facilities. The proper place for provision to be made for those was in a town-planning scheme, where they could be related to the density and distribution of population in such a way as to serve the maximum of efficiency. Regarding the activity taking place in the preparation of extra-urban planning schemes, Mr Parry stated it was the policy of the Government to promote in every possible way the rural amenities of the country by the protection of native bush, and acquisition of reserves for scenic and other purposes, the afforestation or reafforestation of sub-marginal lands, roadside beautification and the planting of trees whenever and wherever that could be done with economy, safety and aesthetic effect.

An extremely mischievous form of development known in England and other countries as “ribbon” development was, unfortunately, being exploited in New Zealand on some of the new State highways. If not speedily checked or brought under control, the system would not only militate against the purpose for which the highways were being constructed and create unnecessary traffic hazards, but would destroy the amenities of the rural scenery through which they passed and which the whole community had the right to enjoy. t The Town Planning Officer, Mr J. W. Mawson, reported at length on activities in connection with town planning throughout New Zealand, which were approaching completion. It was evident that a great deal of work was being done amongst boroughs, and it was ° anticipated that a number of schemes would be finally approved within the next few months. The report of the committee, with Mr Jordan as chairman, which heard objections to the Dannevirke town planning .scheme was presented Vy the chairman and adopted. The objections, said Mr Jordan, were mostly of a minor nature, except in the case of coverage, but the committee had no difficulty in supporting the plan that had been prepared by Mr Hill cn behalf of the Dannevirke Borough Council. j ' The board expressed its appreciation of Mr Hill’s work and also of the efforts of the Dannevirke Borough Council and its officers. Committees were set up for hearing objections to the plan of the New Lynn Borough Council, Which had been provisionally approved by the board meeting in May and also in the case of the Morewa settlement at Napier, which was similarly provisionally approved at the last meeting. Attention was drawn to the activity centring round, the Palmerston North railway deviation, and it was decidec to enlist the co-operation of the Kairanga County Council in controlling and regulating development that was taking place in that locality. A report was received from the Standards Institute stating that model town planning clauses were approach - ing completion. These would serve as a guide only to local bodies throughout New Zealand, in the preparation of their schemes, and a sub-committee of the board was set up to discuss the clauses with the Standards The board expressed its concern at a recent development of advertising m Wellington when seats presented by an advertising agency had been used as a medium of advertising. This was considered as being destructive ot Lie amenities of the city, and the r.oau -■med that the example m the cap.tai eity would not be followed elsewhere.