THE CITY'S FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 121, 22 May 1920, Page 9

THE CITY'S FUTURE

DEPENDS UPON CITIZENS' INTEREST (By "Town-Planner.") The other evening, under the heading of "Theory and Practice in Town-Plan-ning," The Post published the remarks made by a Wellington architect upon the Government's attitude towards townplanning. All the remarks lie makes are true and to the point. Unfortunately; the sins of omission and commission of both Government and City Councils of the past and present would fill many columns of The Post, though optimistic town-planning enthusiasts profess to see v- glimmer of hope of a *better understanding on the part of the powers that be towards efficient developments. On reference to the files of The Post for years past one will find numerous articles on 'town-planning,' but, owing, to the mysterious apathy towards civic matters that seem to possess, Wellington citizens, little or nothing has been done to improve conditions from a town-plan-ning point of view. Backed by the press* the Wellington Town-Planning* Association has for some considerable time been trying to interest the public in town-planning, which, if put into practice, would, in years to come, .make Wellington one of the most attractive of cities, instead of what it is now—a drab, uninteresting collection of shabby buildings ■ with an occasional handsome new structure that only serves to accentuate the shabbiness of.the old timers on either side. It is not just to put the whole blame of this on to the shoulders of past and gone councils; had Wellington been alive to their duty as citizens by giving more thought to the city and a little less to the lust of money-making we to-day would not be paying "through the nose" for costly alterations, with the prospect of still more expensive works of improvement ahead. Even to-day the apathy of the average citizens is likely to place an unsupportable burden on our children, for, whether we like it or no, Welling-1 ton will most certainly have to develop on up-to-date lines sooner or later, and if the necessary plans are not made now it will simply mean that the next generation will be faced. N with the necessity of carrying out the work at far greater expense than would be the case at present.

An immediate need, therefore, is a well-oonsidered plan of the .city ' and suburbs, providing for works of development for anything up to 50 years. Then, the strongest possible pressure ought to be brought to bear on the Government to bring down a Town-Planning Bill this session, making it compulsory for all new works and extensions to be carried out on up-to-date lines. ' This Bill should make the Government Departments parties to its provisions, for there is ho gain-saying the fact that Government Departments have been, and still are, among the worst offenders against town-planning principles, instead of being good examples as they ought to be. All this, however, is hopeless unless the citizens of Wellington show more civic spirit than they havo done in the pasti The visit of the Prince of Wales has proved that there are men in Wellington who, though capable ,of great things, hide their light under a bushel, so to speak, except upon such occasions as this Royal visit. If > these men will come to the front in every-day public life and put the same energy into civic affairs as they put intp making arrangements for decorations and entertainment they, would have the pleasure of helping', to make Wellington a better and more attractive city. The TownPlanning Association cannot be expected to get improvements carried out without public interest and support. Its work is largely educational; public, opinion is the only force that will ever carry out great, reforms.

Will the-citizens of Wellington respond and help make our city what it should be?