A CITY PLAN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 1, 1 July 1935, Page 10

A CITY PLAN

HOUSING ONE FACTOR

CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

MOTION EKOM THE MAYOR

The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, today indicated that he will as soon as possible promote an inquiry by the • City Council into the wide question of | City development, with particular reference to the problem of housing and to the improvement of the City as one preparation for the celebrating of the centenary of Wellington in 1940. Prior to the first meeting of the present council, Councillor C. H. Chapman, M.P., had tabled a motion dealing, with the question of housing, said Mr. Hislop. He (Mr. Hislop) was at that same time considering moving to set up a special committee of the council for the purpose of investigat-. ing several matters of importance, 6t which housing was one, and he consequently arranged with Councillor Chapman to hold over his motion with a view to its principle being incorporated in the more comprehensive motion. "The question of housing is undoubtedly one of immediate importance,"' said Mr. Hislop, "but before any definite steps can be taken in the matter it is necessary that there should be a general survey of the wholt- position that we may know 'with as much exactitude as possible the details of the problem with which we have to deal. I propose to move at the next meeting of the council a resolution to the following effect:— , Th.it a committee be set up to be cj?V. :d the housing, town-planning, L*.-,d centenary committee, the duties oJ; which will be: • ' 1. To investigate the extent of the ■ need for increased housing for workers and others in the City, and to report on the best means of meeting that need as well as on the best means of improving areas where unsatisfactory buildings exist. 2. To review the present bylaws relating to the erection of flats and tenement buildings and the conversion of existing buildings into .flats, * and to bring down such amendment as will clearly set out the minimum requirements to preserve safety, health, and town-planning principles in order to avoid frequent dispensations from bylaws. 3. To consider and report to the council on the most suitable methods of celebrating the centenary of the. City of Wellington and the steps to be taken to ensure the most efficient development of the City, including the improvement of streets now subject to building-line bylaws before that event takes place. 4. For these purposes the committee shall have power to confer with and co-opt representatives of other bodies and professions. "I think that' it is very desirabla that we should have a definite general ' scheme of civic development to be followed through a long period of yean . and <so avoid piecemeal and ■ uncoordinated action," said Mr. Hislop. "I believe that a committee on the lines proposed in my motion should enable a long-term scheme to be adopted, to meet, not only ttie problem of housing, but also the problems of general development..- -j: ..N - . ' • "We can, I believe, envisage a scheme for .the next five years, at least under which we -will have brought about some really useful improvements when the time comes to celebrate the centenary of the City. The actual form which the celebrations are to take has not yet been determined, but in the course of the next week I hope to have a further meeting of the exhibition committee which was set up some time ago, and in a little time I propose to call, a public meeting, of all those interested with a view to putting before them the result of our investigations and 'ascertaining through the meeting the views of the citizens as to the most suitable means of celebrating the centenary. As soon as the decision is made the necessary steps for preparing for the celebrations can be taken. Time is now getting on, and it is essential that a decision should be made in the near future."