New Zealand's First Town Planning Conference.

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 10, 1 June 1919, Page 519

New Zealand's First Town Planning Conference.

An adequate description of the first New Zealand Town Planning Conference held in the Town Hall Wellington, from Tuesday, May 20th, till the following' Friday, cannot be given within the limits of one article, and those who are interested in the

movement will therefore look forward to the Government's official report, which will be a lengthy document. For several days the delegates, and a wider newspaper-reading public heard the ideals of town planning, city beautification, public amenities and proper housing, expounded in a series of papers all of which showed a high level of thought, and much practical good sense. This was the educative work of the Conference.

The constructive side of its work is what we propose to describe. After the Conference had been formally opened and speeches of welcome addressed to the three hundred delegates, it was resolved to

set up a number .of committees to consider specific aspects of the movement and to make recommendations to the Conference. So that while the papers were being discussed in public, and the Conference during its opening days came under criticism for its

output of idealistic phrases with no practical outcome, effective work was all the time going on in committee.

The Town Planning Bill

Two large committees were set up to consider the Hon. G. W. Russell's Town Planning 1917, one committee to deal with the question from the city viewpoint the other taking the country condition into consideration. These committees decided to amalgamate with the result that the Bill was considered by a strong representative body including town planners, legislators, municipal represents-

tives', county council and town district members,. and municipal officials. From every point of view the Bill was discussed, and under the able chairmanship of Mr C. J. Parr, C.M.G., M.P. (chairman of the Federated Town Planning Associations of New Zealand), the various interests, sometimes conflicting, were brought into line in a series of proposals representing a practical working agreement for a town planning and housing policy.

The Committee's Report.

The Committee reported as follows: —

(1.) That this commitee is of opinion that the

principles of town planning should be applied to New Zealand and town planning schemes prepared without delay.

(2.) That for this purpose legislation is necessary in the form of a Town Planning and Housing Act.

(3.) That there be a Town Planning and Housing Department, and an expert Town planner appointed; the Department to have supervision over all town planning schemes. ' •

(4.) That it is advisable to appoint a Central Town Planning Commission to consist of the Town planner and four other experts in engineering, architecture, surveying and public health.

(5.) The Town planner should be a competent and experienced town.planner with a salary that would enable the Dominion to obtain the services of

a first-class man who has had actual experience both in town planning schemes and garden cities, and who is recognised by civic authorities as. a town planner of eminence.

(6) That the provisions in the Bill for the creation of local Town Planning Boards is approved, subject to further provision being made for the creation of special areas covering more than the existing boundaries of any local authority, with representation thereon of all the local authorities interested.

(7.) That where, owing to the development of any district, the immediate preparation of a plan for town extension becomes neecessary, the Minister

may, in default of action by the local authority, direct the Town Planning Department to prepare such a plan for the consideration of the local Town Planning Board set up with or without the consent of the local authority; such plan to have legal effect after the steps provided in the Bill for consideration of objections have been taken. (8.) That this committee approves of the betterment principle embodied in clause 19 (17), and suggests that with a view to its effective operation a special valuation should be made in areas to be covered, by town planning schemes at the earliest possible date; such valuation to serve as a standard of comparison for the purpose of levying a special betterment rate when it has become evident that land values have increased owing to preparations for or parrying out of a scheme.

(9.) That the Bill should make provision for the preservation of our historical buildings and relics, and that the Town Planning Commission be given the power to decide which of these buildings are considered proper for preservation, in which case the owners shall not be permitted to remove, alter, or destroy without special permission from the Commission.

(10.) That the Conference be recommended to appoint this committee a permanent one to further the passage, of the proposed Bill through Parlia-

meiit; Mr C. J. Parr, M.P., Mr H. P. Von Haast, and Mr C. E. Wheeler to be convenors. (11.) Clause 12 (2) of the Bill: Resolved, That the words "exceeding ten acres in extent" be struck out, the committee being of opinion that an area of 10 acres is much too large to sub-divide without the approval of the Commission; and further, that every &üb-division should be subject to approval. (12.) Clause 20: That the words "not exceeding £5000" be struck out, the committee being of opinion that a town, planning scheme having the public health, comfort, and amenity for its object, and after passing through all stages of inquiry and investigation as required by. the Act,- should not necessitate a poll of the ratepayers.

The committee, however, favours the retention of the safeguard provided by the Bill where 10 per centum of the ratepayers may demand a poll. C. J. PARR, Chairman. Town Hall, Wellington, 22nd May, 1919.

The author of the Bill, the Hon. (I. W. Russell, presided over the Conference when the Committee's report was presented. After a lengthy and very intresting discussion the report was accepted with an

addition that the betterment tax be payable ill money or land, and the Minister expressed general concurrence with the recommendations, though he was not prepared to limit the Central Board exactly to the personnel proposed by the Committee, as he considered the Counties Conference and Municipal Association should have representation.

. On the most important point stressed by the Committeee, that of the necessity for placing at the head of the movement a Government Town Planner of outstanding experience, the Minister gave a most gratifying assurance to the Conference.

"It will be my duty to bring the resolutions of the Town Planning Conference before Cabinet," said