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The greatest problem to be faced in the evolution of these co-ordinated; plans, a problem which arises from the multiplicity of local authorities, is the tendency of each local authority to disregard the relation which must exist between its own developments and those of neighbouring local authorities. For instance, it is not possible to consider the planning of the new Porirua-Tawa Flat area contiguous to "Wellington without considering the whole development of Wellington City itself and the Hutt Valley. These areas are all inseparably linked and dependent upon the same port and transport terminals, and each can only be viewed as a part of the whole complex metropolitan structure. The general position in regard to both town and regional planning on scientific lines can perhaps be summarized by stating that the object is, from a full study of data available in Government Departments and elsewhere, to determine the best use to which each part of the country can be put, and from these results to devise and implement, through Government and other agencies, policies designed to create trends toward an improved use of land and resources. The problem is complex, and it is recognized that only a gradual improvement will be possible, but, in so far as New Zealand is developed in conformity with this principle, so far will future possibilities of improved living standards be realized. 12. THE PREPARATION OF WORKS PROGRAMMES Up to the present we have dealt almost entirely with the question of planning, and we have now to consider how works when planned and arranged in order of priority should be carried out. This brings up considerations of an entirely different character. It had become apparent when the Ministry of Works was instituted that some radical changes in the policy then existing were necessary. Prior to the alterations being made, the procedure which had been in operation, for a long term of years was as follows. Shortly before the completion of the financial year Government Departments were invited by Treasury to submit their estimates for the current financial year. Each Government Department acted independently, and in some cases estimates for development and construction works were included in the totals for each Department along with all other items of expenditure. Each Department, acting in what it conceived to be the best departmental interests, submitted requests to Treasury which had to be adjusted in the aggregate to the money which could be made available. Treasury, in reviewing the very substantial requests annually received, in default of any better system, was forced to make more or less rule-of-thumb decisions. Estimates as thus approved were submitted to Parliament, and formed the foundation foi the annual appropriations. The following defects in this system can be pointed out: — (a) Each Department was concerned primarily with its own affairs and was not specifically required to consider the proposals of other Departments. This left little possibility of securing the economy which in certain instances—notably in the construction of public buildings *— might be effected by the grouping of departmental proposals: (b) Insufficient time was available for complete examination of proposals;

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