TOWN PLANNING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 119, 13 February 1929, Page 5

TOWN PLANNING

PUBLIC INTEREST ENLIVENED ADVANTAGE TO DOMINION “Inquiries have come to hand from all parts of the Dominion for information on town planning, also requests that the Director of Town Planning should visit various towns to confer with the local authorities,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. de la Perelle), at a meeting on Monday of the Town Planning Board. The Minister said it gave him great pleasure to meet the board for the first time, and since he was coming into close contact with town planning affairs, he realised the great advantage it would be to New Zealand. Since assuming office as chairman of the board, inquiries had reached him from all parts of the Dominion for information on town planning, and with the request that the director should visit the various towns to confer with the local authorities. He thought all these requests as far as possible should be given effect to. He expressed the desire on behalf of himself and members of the board that Mr. Mawson might find it convenient at a very early opportunity to visit the different centres, and by means of lectures, enlighten the people on the great benefits which town planning would confer upon them. The Town Planning Act had been inaugurated with the idea of improving the environnients of the towns, and to guide and control future developments. He was convinced that intelligently conceived and applied, town planning schemes would have very farreaching effects. He was fully conscious of the responsibilities which rested upon him as Minister of Internal Affairs, and as chairman of the board. The members of the board could count upon his whole-hearted sympathy and help in the great work which lay before them. He was of the opinion, and felt sure that it was the desire of all present that as much publicity as possible should be given to the board’s deliberations. The Minister referred to the valuable work done by Mr. Hammond, the first Director of Town Planning, who had earned the appreciation and thanks of the board for the manner in which he had carried out his duties. He desired also to congratulate the board on having secured the services of Mr. Mawson, the new director, whose practical training and wide experience in town planning in other countries should be of the greatest value to them In the administration of the Town Planning Act in New Zealand. The board then proceeded to consideration of the matters on the agenda paper, and a number of Important de cislons were reached. Regional Schemes. It was decided that the director should attend the Municipal Conference at Wanganui on March 6, to lay before them the policy of the board in regard to regional planning and address public meetings in various towns of the Dominion as time and opportunity permitted. The manciple of the preparation of regional schemes for those areas in which there could be said to exist any matters of common interest was approved by the board. The schemes were to serve as a guide to the separate local authorities in preparing, and the board in considering, the town planning schemes, of the urban areas included in each region. Consideration of a number of provisional town planning schemes submitted in accordance with the provisions of the Town Planning Act, was adjourned pendthe further elaboration by the board, and the consideration of the Government regarding the possible amendment of the Town Planning Act with respect to regional planning. In the meantime local authorities generally were to be asked to proceed more actively with the preparation of their civic surveys. An explanatory memorandum on this subject prepared by the director was approved, and ordered to be circulated. It was decided that until further notice board meetings should be held regularly at intervals of two months, the next meeting being fixed for Wednesday, April 10. In regard to the question of giving publicity to the deliberations of the board, it was decided to seek the fullest co-opera-tion of the Press throughout the Dominion in ■ the dissemination of information with regard to the activities of the board. It was desirable to create an informed public opinion in regard to the scope of town planning, and the benefits which it would confer upon all classes of the community. Personnel of Board. The personnel of the Town Planning Board is as follows: —The Hon. P. A. de la Perelle (Minister of Internal Affairs), chairman; Mr. G. P. Newton (Under-Secretary. Internal Affairs); Mr. F. W. Furkert (Under-Secretary of Public Works): Mr. J. B. Thompson (Undersecretary of Lands and Surveyor-Gene-ral) ; Mr. J. W. Mawson (Director of Town Planning) : Mr. W. E. Bush (city engineer, Auckland), representing the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers; Dr. C. E. Hercus (Government nominee on the board) ; Mr. F. J. Nathan and Mr. C. J. B. Norwood (representing the Municipal Association of New Zealand) ; Mr. S. Blakeley (representing the New Zealand Counties' Association; Mr. W. M. Page (representing the N.Z. Institute of Architects) ; Mr. A. H. Vogle (representing N.Z. Institute of Surveyors) ; Mr. E. T. Mair (Government architect).