TOWN PLANNING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18916, 3 February 1927, Page 4

TOWN PLANNING.

PERSONNEL OF BOARD. CHRISTCHL'RCH AUTHORITIES CRITICAL. When "Builder" sought the views of public men yesterday regarding the constitution of the Town Planning Board, lie found the prevailing opinion to he that the South Island had once aiiain been passed over in favour of the North.

The Government has approved of the following appointments:—W. E. Bush, engineer, Auckland; W. M. Page, architect, Wellington; A. H. Bogle, surveyor, Wanganui; F. J. Nathan, Mayor, Palmerston North; C. J. B. Norwood, Mayor, Wellington; S. Blackle.v, chairman Hutt County; Dr. C. E. Hercus, Dunedin; G. P. Newton, Assistant Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs. The Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. B. F. Bollard, is chairman, and the ex-offieio members are the Town Planner (Mr Hammond) and the persons for tho time being holding office respectively as SurveyorGeneral, Engineor-in-Chicf of the tublie Works Department, and Government Architect. It is proposed to hold the first meeting of the Board on February loth. It was in Christ church that the town (illuming idea, so far as tho Dominion is concerned, originated. It is the Garden City, and no other town would dispute its claim that it has a larger number of enthusiasts for town planning than any other city in Now Zealand. (Jno authority said tho Government was apparently intent 011 forcing tho South Island to press for a separate Main Highways Board, Agricultural College, and now a Town Planning Board. Apparently the Board was going to bo overloaded with Government officials, and the ordinary citizen was not going to bo given enough influence 111 helping it to its decisions. '•Members of local bodies como and go," lie said, "and unfortunately many of them attain their seats by their loquacity, but only men who are prepared to give the subject deep thought over a period nnd who have a certain organising ability can lie said to have the necessary qualifications for membership of the Town Planning Board." More practical private citizens who were not tied by other duties to the public, and had more time to devote to such an important work, should be appointed, rto would liko to hear the opinions of owners of properties just outside the City boundaries which were subject to town planning schemes, and especially their views on its personnel. <r l notice thertj is no builder on the Board." said Mr W. H. Winsor secretary of the Canterbury Builders Association. "With the exception of Government officials, there are 110 constructive men on it. That is my opinion, and I should be pleased to hear' that I am wrong." If anyone looked back it would be easy to remember that Christ-church originated the movement, yet the appointments showed a bias against this town. Mr Winsor said he was very much disappointed no builder had been appointed. A builder's practical knowledge would be of inestimable value in the multitude of little things which must be foreseen.