SURVEYS NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 137, 13 June 1939, Page 17

SURVEYS NEEDED

CIVIC DEVELOPMENT

ADVICE TO LOCAL BODIES

The importance of local bodies planning for future development by making proper surveys in their areas colore embarking on any development work was emphasised last night oy the Prime Minister (the Rt. .Hon. M. J. Savage), who pointed out that the knowledge and advice of the Government's town-planning officer was always available.

Mr. Savage said that his attention had been directed by the Local Government Loans Board to the need on the part of many local authorities throughout the Dominion to carry out proper civic surveys before embarking on further development works in the areas under their control. One phase of development—housing—which was proceeding apace in most of the centres of population demanded planning for the future as well as the present needs of the community, and these needs could not satisfactorily be provided for unless the foundations for subsequent development were well and truly laid on 'modern town-planning lines.

To this end it was essential that the local authorities concerned should realise the responsibility which rested on their shoulders tp ensure for their < guidance -and for the guidance of those to follow that proper civic surveys were prepared as a basis for development. The Loans Board had acquired a good knowledge of the problem in the course of its deliberations on the applications of local authorities fw sanction to borrow for public works of various kinds, and Mr, Sayage said that the experience o. the board was that the need for civic surveys and proper town planning was very real. The Government had done its part i the appointment of a town-planning officer, the benefit of whose knowledge and advice was available at all times to local authorities, and he felt that ne could rely on the local bodies themselves to do their part in carrying out this important and necessary work.