TOWN PLANNING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3172, 24 August 1917, Page 6

TOWN PLANNING

A BILL IN PREPABATION. An interesting statement In reference to his town-planning proposals was made by the Hon. G. W. Russell yesterday afternoon in reply to a deputation of Otago members which waitea upon him. lis Department, ho said, had kept in closest touch with world movements in town planning. Instructions had been given for tho preparation of a Bill at onco dealing with tho nutter, which would adhoro to the main proposals of tho Bill of 1912, and have incorporated with them all tho latest discoveries in regard to town planning. . He proposed to introduce tho Bill this session, and it entirely depended upon Cabinet whether it would be proceeded with. If there wore no contentious matter in it he hoped to put it through this uessioii, but if there were contentious matter it would probably be postponed till next year. Some of the proposals in tho Bill would be very drastic. Tho deputation had brought up the question of overcrowding, but restrictions in regard to that were to bo found in the Municipal Corporations Act in which special powers were given to councils.

Mi. J. M. Dickson: Special powers are given, but not used by councils. Mr. Russell: Well, the Government gavo them power, and if they don't lake advantage of it that is a different matter.

The Minister went on to state that to rnako a town-planning scheme effective there must bo possessed the power to prevent any man cutting up land into residential blocks until the plan of same had been passed by an authority which would see that provision had been made for drainage, water, and tho amenities of life, and that it all fitted in with the main city scheme. That was life essential feature of town planning, coupled with tho elimination of slums. The matter was not so much of importance to the large centres as to the small towns which were growing, and would become cities in the futuro.