A BILL PROMISED

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 138, 11 June 1920, Page 8

A BILL PROMISED

MINISTER AND TOWN-PLANNING

THIS SESSION IF POSSIBLE.

Delegates from the Conference of the New Zealand Federated Town-Planning Associations waited upon the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) to-day to place before him their views in regard to town-planning legislation which they hope will be introduced in the coming session of Parliament. The Hon. C. J. Parr, M.P., introduced the deputation, and, with Messrs. A. Hunt, G. Mitchell, M.P., and Carwell Cooke, stressed the need for the creation of a Department of Towh-Planning at the head of which should be an expert 1 who could advise local bodies in regard to I future operations—not academically but practically—and behind which should be a commission to act as a Court of Appeal should local bodies not altogether agree with the findings of the expert. The Minister, in reply, said he took a great interest in town-planning, , and added that he would have supported the Hon. G. W. Russell's Bill had it come forward. He knew it was not desirable to allow land syndicates to cut up areas without a thorough supervision; in fact, years ago he had influenced Mr. Roderick M'Kenzie to provide for a measure of control. He was in favour of creating a Department and appointing, an expert, but what was going to be done then? Were there to be built any new towns which would require supervision? A member of the deputation: "There are new suburbs cropping up. We don't want any more Newtowns, for instance. Mr. Anderson said he took it the work of the expert would be very largely in educating the public, and of that he was very much in favour. He could not promise that a Bill embodying the wishes of the deputation would go through this session, but he would promise that it would be brought down this session or the next. There would be no difficulty, he thought, in getting his colleagues to agree to that; if possible the Bill would come down this year. It was astonishing how much town-planning legislation there was in existence already in different laws, and he thought much could be achieved by collecting this in one Bill. Mr. Parr : "Yes, under one man; the expert." Mr. Anderson went on to refer to the deputation's remarks concerning the scheme of public utility committees in Great Britain to assist in overcoming the house shortage and under which the Government subsidised groups of people willing to erect houses. If the proper safeguards were provided, he thought that might achieve the end in view. Personally, he was very much in favour of each man owning his own house. Nothing could be done, however, without the thorough help of those necessary in the 'building of'houses, and in this connection he hoped carpenters and others required would become available and put their whole will in getting the necessary houses erected.