TOWN PLANNING

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 12

TOWN PLANNING

MEETING- OF BOARD

CHANGE OF PERSONNEL

Before commencing with the business of the Town Planning Board, which met this morning, the chairman (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) made reference to "changes in the personnel of the board. The Minister stated that it was with regret that he had to announce the resignation of Mr. G. P. Newton, who, oil voluntarily retiring from the position of Under-Seeretary, of Internal Affairs, ceased to be a member of the Town Planning Board. Mr. A. G. Harper, of the local Government branch of the Department, and who had really been Mr. Newton's understudy, had been appointed by the Governor-General to the vacant position on the board. Mr. Perrelle said that he regretted exceedingly Mr. Newton's severance a3 permanent head of tlie Department of; Internal Affairs, in- which branch-, of the State's functions- ho'had held with;, credit various positions for a'number of years. He could confidently say that the Town Planning Board had had no greater advocate than Mr. Newton, who-; had always been imbued with the idea that if tlio legislation on the Statute Book was fully utilised- a very big advance in making our cities beautiful would be achieved, and at the. same time would result in a large saving to our local bodies. "Mr. Newton's enthusiasm made his presence felt at board meetings," continued the Minister, '' and I think I am echoing the sentiments of members in saying that his retirement is greatly regretted. I hope that after a good rest Mr. Newton's services may be again obtained on the board, for there is no doubt that all along he had been a very enthusiastic member." In referring to the appointment, of Mr. Harper, Mr. Perrelle remarked that Mr. Harper had "been a valued - understudy of Mr. Newton, and his presence on the board would be liberally felt. Mr. W. M. Page expressed regret at Mr. Newton's retirement. ■ Mr. J. W. Mawson (Director of Town Planning) said that with the intimate connection he had had by reason of his office with Mr. Newton he was certainly able to testify to the splendid work done by the retiring member. He felt sure that Mr. Harper, who was to succeed Mr. Newton on the board, would do good work, for in spite of his special local Government experience, he had been Mr. Newton's lieutenant in' dealing with town planning.^ Mr. Newton thanked the chairman and members of the board who had spoken. It was true. that. he had had a long association with town planning, and he was firmly convinced that if the present policy was carried on in the future so excellently as it had been in the past great benefits would accrue to the Dominion. Mr. Harper thanked Mr. Perrelle and members of the board for the welcome he had received. He would find it very difficult to emulate the good example Mr. Newton had set, but he would do his best to do so. Probably Mr. Newton, his late chief, was one of the known authorities on town planning, and he felt his services would be greatly missed. Mr. Newton had worked very hard for the development of town planning, and realising the high standard he had succeeded in obtaining, the problems ahead to be considered in line with the policy established would always have his best attention.