RIGHTS OF PROPERTY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 204, 26 May 1938, Page 13

RIGHTS OF PROPERTY

No Change In Procedure Contemplated

TOWN-PLANNING SCHEMES

A statement that the Government never would stand for anything in the nature of confiscation of . property rights was made by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, in an address at a meeting of the TownPlanning Board yesterday. The Minister said he was afraid that amending legislation dealing with town-planning would have to Stand over until after the general election. “Town-planning is not understood, largely, I think, through apathy and partly because it has been misrepresented sometimes by misguided enthusiasts and sometimes by vested interests,” said Mr. Parry. “I do know that many people are afraid of townplanning. They wrongly see m it either an unwarranted interference with, or even confiscation of, property rights, or just another device for thinking up projects on which to expend the ratepayers’ money.” The Minister said members of the board could possibly see, as he did, in the attitude engendered a political weapon which opponents of the present Government would not hesitate to use. He would give members tlie most definite assurance that the Government. never would stand for anything in the nature of the confiscation of property rights. What had to be done in the public interest in the way of purchasing such rights would be done as in the past, after full inquiry and the payment of compensation assessed by a compensation court.

Not A Popular Subject

••(lliicial work takes me about the country a good deal, as you know continued the Minister, “and I probably come into personal contact with members of local authorities more than any other of my colleagues. It has been impressed upon me by my own observation, particularly during me period immediately preceding the recent local body elections, that townplanning is not a popular subject in local government circles, “I can only recall one election manifesto in which any reference was to the subject. The members of me board will remember what happened in the ease of Timaru when the scheme was advertised. That scheme had been years in course of preparation, and a great deal of publicity had been given to it. One would have thought that the ratepayers of Timaru knew what it was all about and bow it would affect their private interests, and yet it was only within a few days of the public inquiry that they took the trouble to study it. and awakened to its significance. The result was a flood of objections, 75 per cent, of which were based on misconceptions. Something of th e same kind has been happening in Dannevirke.”

More Urgent Legislation

Last October, the Minister said, he had told the board of definite hope, of the introduction of a Town-planning Amendment Bill during the life of the present. Parliament. With only one short session remaining, however, which had to be devoted almost entirely to the Government’s social security legislation, he was afraid town-plan-ning would have to Hand over now until after the general election. In the circumstances the board could not blame the Government for giving precedence to what it considered to. be more urgent and important legislation. “My colleagues and I are absolutely sincere in our belief in the social and economic advantages of town-plan-ning,” Mr. Parry said. “We hope to give a practical demonstration of this in the near future. But there Is no escaping the fact that there is no great public demand for town-planning in this country at the present time outside of certain professional and other organisations with limited membership which may be accused of special pleading. “Something will have to he done about it. and I look to you, who have had more experience and knowledge than I have, for advice and help. I can see nothing else for if but an intensive and well-organised educational campaign, using every medium available to us, and, possibly, culminating in a Dominion town-planning conference and exhibition during the centenial year. I think that, in addition to the members of the board and the officers of the Department of Internal Affairs, we ought to enlist the sympathy and help of the professional organisations directly concerned, particularly the Town-Planning Institute and its branches. I am anxious that you should not feel that anything I have said this morning is a reflection on the board, which, I know, has been working under a severe handicap It says much for the enthusiasm and perseverance of the members of the board that five

of the members originally appointed in 1927. other than Government officers, are still active members.” Scheme For Onekaka.

A reference was made by the Minister to the proposed town of Onekaka. That scheme would give the Government an opportunity of making _ a practical application of town-planning principles. The whole matter, of course, was still in a nebulous state, and no final decision could be made until the various economic factors of the proposed iron and steel works had been thoroughly explored. In the Onekaka district there was a magnificent site for the construction of a town to house the workers. There was opportunity of making a town there which would be an example to the whole of New Zealand of what could be dope by the application of modern scientific knowledge. Although deploring the lack of progress, the Minister said there was, nevertheless, a considerable amount of activity taking place. There were two schemes on the agenda for provisional approval. Perhaps the most pleasing thing was that there seemed to be a definite movement among the counties to take advantage of the extra-urban provisions of the Town-Planning Act, An Ord’er-in-Council had been issued for the preparation of a scheme for Pembroke, in rhe Lake County, the replanning of which was to be done by the Surveyor-General in co-operation with Air. Mawson. The Mackenzie County Council had decided to prepare a scheme for Tekapo, and three separate schemes were under consideration by tlie Ashburton County Council for the townships of Allenton. Methven, and Rakaia, He understood that the Hutt County Council was contemplating the preparation of schemes for Plinimerton and other settlements where a considerable amount of building activity was evident, particularly on the coast.