TOWN PLANNERS CONFER

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 8

TOWN PLANNERS CONFER

ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY

WANTED

A conference of representatives of various Town-Planning Associations from different parts of New Zealand was opened in the Accountants' Chambers to-day. The delegates present were:—Messrs. C. J. Parr, M.P., C.M.G. (Auckland), •S. Huret Seagar (Christchurch), J. T. Paul (Dunedin), C. Cray (Timaru), Hope Gibbons (Wangaiuii), W. M. Pago (Invercargill), 0. E. Wheeler, Leigli Hunt, and Carwell Cooke' (Wellington). The Hon. J. G. W. Aitlcen, M.L.C., and Messrs. T. Ballinger, L. Fanning, and E. C. Jack, all from Wellington, and Mr. J. Payne,. M.P., also attended. The Hon. J. G. W. Ait-ken welcomed the delegates to Wellington, and in doing so asserted that the work of the various associations was of the utmost importance to New Zealand. If 1 no other body besides .the Government pushed the,class of work they were engaged in nothing would be done. Pressure had to be brought to bear upon the Government before it would see the force and utility of town-planning. Before they went to the Minister they would have to decide definitely in what direction their efforts should be. They must show a united front. He knew that a Bill had been prepared, but he could not say when it would be brought forward. In the name of the Wellington Association, he welcomed the delegates, and hoped that the discussions would be valuable and helpful. He invited Mr. C. J. Parr to occupy the chair, and preside over the conference.

Mr. Parr said he' was very keen about town-planning, but caw no reason why Mr. Aitken should not preside. The meeting desired unanimously that Mr. Parr should preside, and eventually ho agreed to do so. Mr. Parr endorsed what Mr. Aitken had said regarding the advisability of showing fo the Minister a united front. The Conference, he said, had been called as a result of the following motion, passed by the Greater AVellington Town-Planning and Municipal Electors' Association :—"That we canvene a Town-Planning Conference, consisting of delegates from town-planning associations and 'eading enthusiasts, to meet in Wellington early in August, for the purpose of urging the Minister to introduce a Town-Planning Bill into the House this session, and circulate it throughout the country during the recess, with the object of passing it into law next session as an urgent measure to ensure economy and efficiency during critical years to come." Mr. Parr stated that the principal evil which they had to fight was the haphazard method of creating new subdivisions. He was afraid nothing would be done until a paid expert—a town-planning commissioner—was appointed. He favoured the idea, too, of advisory boards, each containing experts in some particular branch. If those boards were nothing more than advisory they would do a tremendous lot of good. Mr. S. Hurst Seagal (Christchurch) said it was to be regretted that an opportunity to consider the proposed TownPlanning Bill had not been given.' It was but little use going to the Minister unless thby were prepared to make concrete suggestions. He outlined townplanning schemes in other parts of the world.

A general discussion ensued as to the points which would be placed before the Minister of Internal affairs at a deputation later in the day.