Editorial Comment

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 6, 1 February 1919, Page 421

Editorial Comment

Heavy drops in the freight rates from England and the United States seem to give some promise of improved conditions for the building trade, but hopeful as we are inclined to be of a revival, there are unfortunately other factors which off-set to an important degree the reduction in cost of transport. The labour upheaval in England will increase the cost of production, and probably result in maintaining the price of manufactures almost at the war level. It is anticipated that the landed cost of heavy ironwork will drop owing to the improved freight conditions, hut other lines used in the building trade do not seem to be making the prompt decline which was hoped for when peace came. Wall plaster has actually advanced 5/- per ton since the armistice, and there is nothing very consoling, so far, about the prices of hardware. In reviewing the position of the New Zealand building trade at the opening of the past two years we ventured to advise owners not to wait for an uncertain drop in prices after the war, and we must repeat that advice to-day. It is unwise to postpone the erection of useful buildings in the hope of any substantial reduction in cost in the near future. New Zealand’s labour situation is none too promising, but the rapid demobilisation of the Expeditionary Force will ease the severity of the shortage, and enable the most important building operations to proceed this year. Though it will be under difficulties, the building trade should enjoy a mild revival of activity this year.

Building Trade Prospects,

The adjudicators in the “ Progress ” competitions for war memorial designs report that nineteen competitors submitted designs,' but they are disappointed at the, lack of interest on the part of the more mature section of the architectural profession. Possibly our leading designers are awaiting the big national opportunities now in sight, for the question has become very prominent and the public is getting a good deal of advice of various kinds. The problem before New Zealand is the one which Iras concerned peoples from the beginning of history —how to fittingly commemorate an historical

War Memorials.

event, and provide as a constant reminder to the community, and posterity, something which will vividly picture the valour, the self-sacrifice, and endurance of the men who fought for four-and-a-half years until complete victory came. The struggle brought out great qualities, not onlv in the fighting men, hut the whole community, and this broad view of the great commemoration must be kept in mind. It has been suggested by Mr. Hurst Seager that a magnificent arterial road from Auckland to the Bluff would fittingly mark the achievements of our young nation. He will find support from those who believe in the utilitarian monument, but there will be a larger body of public opinion, we hope, to favour symbols more directly and appropriately suggestive of the great human qualities which enabled the race to win this war for freedom. The subject will stimulate the best creative and artistic genius. What we wish for is a monument capable of suggesting to the men and women of the future the qualities which the test proved the British race to possess. Fine groups of statuary in the four centres would provide this reminder so that he who runs may read." New Zealand cities have in the past paid very little attention to these objects of beauty, but this is the opportunity to fill the void, and give visible evidence of higher ideals than the mere pursuit of a record production of meat, butter and cheese.

Town Planners will find in the New Zealand Nurserymen’s Association a valuable ally in their objective of the city beautiful. The Association has • decided, in the interests of its own members, to enter upon a publicity campaign to induce more planting of flowers and shrubs by New Zealanders. It is a business venture, of course, but must not be discounted for that reason, as' the nurserymen generally do not overcharge for their product, and they have in the past shown commendable public spirit in assisting municipalities to beautify public spaces. We hope their publicity will follow the admirable lines of that adopted by the American Association of Nurserymen, which in booklets and pamphlets has greatly encouraged useful and ornamental, gardening. One of the Association’s pamphlets, dealing with “ Home Grounds, their Planning and Planting,” is a splendid guide to home builders,, for it shows how even the small city plot may be made a very beautiful setting for the home if certain clearlydefined principles are followed. There is a good public spirit about the advice which this booklet gives on the subject of the prospect from the street, advice which we repeat for New Zealand absorption, for our readers will agree that there is a sad lack of appreciation of the importance of this viewpoint, yin North America,” says the author, Mr. L. H. Bailey, “it is considered that the public has a legitimate interest in the appearance of the ' home landscape garden. Pedestrians on the sidewalk, travellers on the street, have the right to pleasant prospects. There is an air of hospitality and a suggestion of interest in the common weal when the residence areas of any town or countryside are well open to view from the street. ■ They express welcome, and each one contributes to the ’civic solidarity. Yet the resident is entitled to his own tastes (if they do not violate the common conscience), and specially to his privacy. 6 To some persons the way to secure these results is to wall themselves in with masonry enclosures. For-

The Gardeners’ Campaign.

tunately this treatment is not common in a democracy. It seems to express exclusiveness or even selfishness. It is associated mostly with the places of the very rich. The privacy that one desires may he secured without walls. The residence may be well back from the street, for example, if the area is large enough ; low planting may be placed along the thoroughfare, in the nature of a broken border-line, but not high or dense enough to close either the inward or the outward view ; the approaches to the house may not be direct ; the architect may so plan the house as to provide the necessary seclusion without offending the public; a private lawn may be developed at the side or the rear. A man doth not live to himself alone, particularly when -his wealth comes from.the people. Indeed, he may properly consider the people, and so plant the home grounds as purposely to give pleasure to the passer-by."

On Tuesday, May 19th. at the Wellington Town Hall, the Minister of Internal Affairs will open a Town Planning Conference and Exhibition. The honorary organiser is Mr. Hurst Seager, of Chrischurch, who has temporarily established himself in an office in Parliament Building, and making every effort to secure a thoroughly representative gathering of all who have interested themselves in the question. The foremost topic for discussion will be the Town-Planning Bill, and the Hon, G. W. Bussell must be prepared to hear some destructive criticism of that measure. He had the courage to introduce it into a House of Representatives containing a number of members who ridiculed it, but the logic of subsequent events has been too strong for the thoughtless or conservative minds, and there is now a good opportunity of getting a workable measure through Parliament. The Minister will require to be convinced of the necessity of including in the personnel of the Town Planning Board at least one expert who has studied the Town-Planning movement from more than the point of view natqrally taken by, say, the municipal engineer, who is inclined to imagine that perfection is to be reached through good roads. Tins is only one of the essentials. Town-Planning seeks to bring to bear on the lay-out and maintainance of towns a combination of artistic ideal and technical skill which will make, not only for beauty but utility. It is a money-saving movement, not a “ pull-down ” fad. The work of the conference will be to discuss a series of illustrated papers on the principles of Town-Planning and housing, and their application to Dominion conditions, compiled by delegates possessing expert knowledge of some portion of Town-Planning work; to consider the legislation necessary to carry into effect the principles for TownPlanning and advancement; to , collect and arrange for exhibition plans, models, photos, and diagrams of TownPlanning activities in other parts of the world ; to show the existing conditions and growth of cities in New Zealand, their merits and defects, and to contrast them before and after improvements have been made; and, among other matters of interest to inaugurate com-

The TownPlanning Conference.

petitions for housing for workers, industrial villages, garden suburbs and civic improvements. For the first time in the history of the movement in this country, the subject will be discussed by a truly representative gathering. It's educative influence will be enormous if it shows adequate initiative and secures wide publicity for the papers and discussions. \ ,