LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 17086, 3 July 1919, Page 2

LOCAL BODIES' CONFERENCE

At the conference of local bodies of tb? "Wellington Province yesterday _ a- remit was adopted , urging the subdivision, of all big estates, thus encouraging closer settlement, "and thai .something bo done in the matteir of prevnting aggregation. Another remit adopted was that with a view to correcting the drift of rural population into cities find boroughs, and providing suitable dwellings for country workers and that a village settlement on modern town planning lines be estab-lished!—-(1) by the joint action of local bodies; (2) by the promotion of garden (settlement tympanies on tho Hires ot Etogiish Garden Suburb Associations, that the Govea:rament he urged to import either from England or America as early as possible an experienced town planner to direct tho movement throughout the Dominion, that the State 'arrange to finaoi.ee the town planning scheme, as hj done in Britain, and that the Government be urged to paas a Town Planning Act. Die conference endorsed a remit urging the State 'Control of all living forests in the. country, vigorous planting- of -selected Crown lands, and, the practical stoppage of exportation of sawn timber from New Zealand. The following resolutions were also carried: —"That the conference affirm that it be an established principle that tlie betterment tax be put on the lands surveyed by any railways or deviations of railways that may be built in the future.'' "'.('hat the Government be asked to report on the advisability of our exportable wool being scoured before exportation," The conference has concluded.