TOWN PLANNING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 4

TOWN PLANNING

ARCHITECTS' FUNCTIONS

Some very important aspects of town planning have been submitted in a paper to the New Zealand Institute of Architects by Professor C. R. Knight, who'fills the Chair of Architecture in Auckland University College.

"With" the advent of the realisation of the necessity of amenity in town development the architect has in a measure been reconsidered," he states. "But today,'. the outstanding necessity is unquestionably the co-ordination of all the factors concerned in town planning into a comprehensive unity, arid who is more competent by training and skill to achieve this than the architect?- . , '

. "In New Zealand our Town Planning Act. gives. local authorities full power to refuse a permit'/ if building is injurious to the amenity of'a neighbourhood—a very difficult question to assess; but I am sure, you . will all agree that the' time-is .rapidly approaching when the exercise of some control will be necessary in the public interest. : Any-such control must be by- s "competent authorities, and some form of advisory committee, upon which' architects ' hold 'a , prominent place, would seem.-to,; be the riiost satisfactory method. I feel very definitely that any such proposal should be initiated by the architects themselves, and for this reason commend it to your notice. Town planning is so embracing in its ramifications, and the title of'this paper is so. wide in its scope that there is a grave danger of including .too much material of- a detailed character. I could say a great deal about the lack of individuality in New Zealand towns or the efficiency resulting from correlation of interests. I would like to tell you, too," of ' the visions I have had. of what might" so easily be achieved in some special instances if constructive- preplanning and wise corrective planning were enthusiastically undertaken. This country has air the materials for a wonderful economic future; it is endowed, too, by Nature with a lavish hand, yet as we hurry through in modern transport systems,'we'are glad to leave the towns behind ,and refresh our minds upon the works of the greatest Architect of all.

"The towns—-our towns—need your attention and mine if they are to be worthy of us and our land. But the first step, the outstanding need, is the co-ordination of national effort in the interests of community efficiency. The details, individuality, harmony, amenity will all follow later. I have chosen, therefore, to emphasise this need in my paper. It can be achieved within the scope of our existing legislation by. the setting up of regional committees charged with the preparation of regional and town planning. But a full measure of efficiency will only be obtained if it is done willingly—nay, enthusiastically—for town planning is the people's business."