THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923, Page 4

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

OUTCOME OF ORDERED PLANS.

AUCKLAND'S OPPORTUNITY.

(By R.H.)

A great city is essentially a magnet that attracts and holds people instead of I metal. The attractive force of this magnet is its ability to give people the thingi that make life pleasant in greater proportion than they can get elsewhere. Chiei among such things is the opportunity to work and to enjoy healthful I recreation, but both work and recreation are irksome when done among sordid surroundings. The greatest attractive force, therefore, that any city can exercise is one founded upon the beautiful and the artistic. Auckland with its many natural advantages is without doubt the most beautiful city in the Dominion, and if its development is guided along carefully planned lines, it will become even more attractive. Xo people of any city will labour harder or sacrifice more for their city their larger home—than will the people of Auckland. It is this civic patriotism —almost as strong as our love of country—that has. in the past, urged Auckland to great achievement. Suoh civic pride is an asset of incalculable value to Auckland, and perhaps no city in the Dominion has such glorious prospect* before it. One day this will be a greet city, and because they can foresee itl wonderful growth within the next decade, many citizens are concerned about Auckland's future. Shall we allow our fair city to grow just anyhow, without a well-defined plan? There are great problems to be faced in thia city, but these problems will not become any less serious by delaying action for an indefinite period. Something ought to be done at once to lay the plan for Auckland's development. In his report of hie visit to America and Great Britain. Mr. Morton, the city engineer of Wellington, said: "Considering improvement in the light of what has been Been in other places, there can be no doubt that it is advisable for the Council of Wellington to determine as soon as possible what are to be the main linqa of traffic from the centre of the city to the various suburbs, and allenergy should be concentrated on bringing about a final .determination of these plans, even though the work may extend over a considerable number of years. It is therefore wise to deter-' mine upon the locations of all necessary main roads extending to each of the various districts, and improve these roads as soon as possible. The same applies to the location of all probable future tramway extensions. Whilst on this matter I desire to point out that no legislation is necessary or required for dealing with town improvement, sufficient power for giving effect to such purposes being already vested in local authorities." While Mr. Morton referred particularly to roads and tram-lines, the same reasons hold good for the planning of the citj J s future growth. The city engineer of Dundee has prepared a simple, yet most comprehensive development plan for that city, and in the report to hie Council he says:— "Development, let it be repeated with the greatest possible emphasis, and that development in accordance with a wellconsidered and comprehensive plan, must be the main factor tn ensuring the success of any scheme for the removal of congestion, and, until such a plan is prepared, adopted, and vigorously prosecuted, and former haphazard methods of improvement or expansion abandoned, all efforts to solve the problem will be tardy, costly and ineffectual." To be sufficiently comprehensive and far-seeing, a development plan should be outlined to meet the present-day requirements, and should anticipate the needs of Auckland City in its gradual expansion during the next fifty years. Every citizen who takes a genuine interest in the town must be conscious of the disfigurement and of the loss and damage which have resulted from the non-existence of such a plan as we suggest should be prepared without further delay. The following are broad outlines of the advantages of a development plan taken from the Dundee City Engineer's report:— 'This plan of development will ensure the spreading out of the population, the lowering of the death-rate, the lessening of infantile mortality, and the reduction of tuberculosis and all infectious and contagious diseases. "It will ensure the gradual elim'ma' tion of congested areas. "It will ensure a raising of housing standards and improvements in public heaith, and less expenditure on hospitals, sanatoria, and asylums. "It will ensure a healthier community, increased earning capacity of citizens, and a distinct economic gain locally and nationally. 'It will ensure appropriate allocation of land in positions best suited for industrial and housing requirement*. the steadying of property value?, greater convenience for workers, improved working conditions and better environment. 'It will ensure preservation of existing, and provison of new, open spaceSi parks and parkways in sufficient numbers in suitable localities. "It will ensure that thn expansion of the city shall not proceed in a haphazard manner, that the framework of the town shall be designed on a scientific and sane basis, that the interests of future ratepayers will be safeguarded in the lay-out, not only of the lands within the city, but as well of the areas beyond it's boundaries, and that there Will in consequence he substantial financial advantages to the ratepayers. "It will ensure that street widenings shall be designed aht>ad of actual requirements, and that the widening of existing main traffic roads shall be carried out only as opportunities permit and as parts of a feasible scheme o* new main traffic roads. "It will ensure that the necessities of traffic will be provided for in a logical design of roads, tramways, and railways, and thoir connections, and that expedition and eeonomv in transport will resuit. "It will ensure that plaor- of natural beauty will be prosprvod. and. where not already public property, .-.eeured for the citizens; that tittinsr sites will Ik- se* apart for public building*. "Tt will ensure keen and practical interest in the scheme of development, inspire high ideals in the carrying out of a completion of t!ip work, and stimulate and endeavour to secure results worthy of the exceptional situation of the city and neighbourhood." Imagine Auckland fifty years hence, if it is developed according to MU'h a plan. It will be one of the worlds wonder cities, a Mecca for tourist*, and a constant source of delight for our children and our children's children—its citizen*