TOWN PLANNING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1265, 21 October 1911, Page 13

TOWN PLANNING.

"Tho problem for tho last generation was to provide gas and water. Tho problem for tho future generation is to provide light ami air." This was one of tho many pointed remarks mado by Mr. C. C\ Iteade in his lecture on town fanning at tho Concert Chamber, Town llall, Inst evening. Tho lecturer was introduced to a fairly largo audionco by Mr. Geo. l-owlds, M.P., and tho address wag listened to with interest. In tho first part of his lecture Mr. Iteado dealt with "Now Zealand suburbs." As an illustration of how crowded areas grew up, a plan of Miramar was shown, tho subdivisions being mainly 40ft. frontages, with not a provision for public square nr public gardens. Bight years ago Miramar had been virgin land. Twenty Tears ago tho unimproved value of ilw land had been <£19 per acre, whilo to-day it stood at -C 250 ncr acre. Tho class of homes that had l>ccn built in this suburb and in neighbouring suburbs was shown by numerous illustrations. As a contrast, Mr. Eeadc gave porno news of tho modem English town of Boumeville. Tho .argument of it all (said the lecturer) was that landowners when subdividing for sale should be compelled to provide pro-pcrly-formed streets with proper connection, and to set aside land ior public paiks. Auckland's fashionable suburb, Kemuera, was referred to by the lecturer as a clear example of the urgent need of legislation to more effectively control town planning. In tho second half of the lecture, "Town Planning in Practice" was dealt with.