TOWN PLANNING AND CIVIC CLEANLINESS.

Evening Star, Issue 22367, 17 June 1936, Page 10

TOWN PLANNING AND CIVIC CLEANLINESS.

Public-spirited citizens who seek to put into practice the principles of town planning are faced with obvious difficulties. Had it been possible in the early colonising days to allow advance parties of professional men with a knowledge of architecture and surveying and an ability to forecast future developments to plan New Zealand’s cities and towns before the actual foundations wore laid, we might now have had business and residential areas requiring only minor adjustments to enable us to keep pace with modern demands. However, the early settlers had quite enough to occupy their attention without feeling it their duty to try and visualise needs for nearly a century ahead. So far as Dunedin is concerned, wo have only to consider the happy provisions that were made for green “ breathing spaces ” to arrive at the conclusion that in the circumstances the pioneers were wonderfully long-sighted. How could they have been expected to foresee a highpressure age in which the hurly-burly of city life was to be greatly accentuated by petrol-driven traffic? Of necessity the growth of Dunedin, as of all New Zealand towns, had to have certain mushroom-like qualities in order to cope with a steady stream of migrants from the Homeland.

From the remarks made by Mr C. B. Barrowclough at the meeting of the town planning branch of the Otago Institute Idst night it can be gathered that in 1871 the importance of moulding town planning ideals into concrete shape was by no means universally recognised. True, the House of Representatives passed a Bill aiming at something the sort, but the Legislative Council', (which should have known better) threw it out. A Bill passed in 1875 became merged ten years later into an Act containing twenty statutes dealing with what might be called town planning and relative matters, but for various reasons, some of which still obtain, it fell short of achieving all that it provided for. The wider issues of regional planning were given primary consideration. Apparently it was not until motordom was well advanced —in 1926—that an Act was passed having as its object the improvement of existing conditions. Although in some respects tho attempt to inaugurate a perfect system of town planning necessitates trying to retrieve much ground that seems to be irrecoverable, it goes without saying that the good work must go on. Full co-opera-tion should be given to the authorities and their associates who are keeping continually in mind the fulfilment of the ideals to which publicity on many occasions has been given. The clearance of slum areas, for instance, is one matter which should not present insuperable difficulties. • The improvements will be gradual. This generation may not have the full benefit of them. But that probability is unlikely to detract anything from the zeal of the citizens whose names are being associated with current endeavours to raise the standard of urban comfort and beauty. The state of Dunedin’s streets is one question that merits immediate attention from the public. Beyond all doubt there is scope for a “ keep your streets tidy ” campaign. No extra expense is involved in; this respect—just a little thought. That is all. For yca'rs tho Amenities Society has striven to inculcate into users of the city’s streets tho realisation of tho need to place litter in the receptacles provided for it. And tho City Council has always proved itself willing to co-operate. Pedestrians with paper or empty cigarette packets to discard should remember the presence of the bins which h j been available for some years for tho express purpose of receiving such rubbish. If the reasonable request of the Amenities Society for an increased number of bins is granted, there is every chance that the additional encouragement towards cleanliness will be the basis of the formation of a new public habit, and one very much to he desired. Adequate control of dogs in city and suburbs alike is another matter demanding the strictest attention. There was urgent need also for the warning of Dr Hercus against tho habit of expectorating in the streets. There are certain sections of tho main thoroughfares so filthy as a result of tho persistent thoughtlessness thus exemplified that visitors to the city have been known to express their disgust in scathing terms. As was suggested by Dr Hcrcus, prosecutions would constitute tho most practical way of dealing with .this particular menace..

There were G 8 householders present at a meeting on Monday night to elect a new committee for the Concord School. The following were appointed: —Messrs S. J. Andrew (chairman), P, Rouse, E. Taylor, T. Trevathan, and F. Thompson. The paying-out day of State pensions falls this month on 'Tuesday, Juno 2d, which, being the King’s_ Birthday, is a public holiday. The Minister of Pensions (the Hon. W. E. Parry) stated last night (says a Press Association telegram from Wellington) that arrangements had been made for State pensioners to receive the amounts to which they were entitled on Monday, Juno 22. “ This concession, which is made possible by the pensions authorities,” Mr Parry said, “ will, I know, bo warmly appreciated by the pensioners.” When air mail matters were being discussed at the meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last night a member pointed out that it was not yet generally known that air mail letters could be posted in any street box. There was an impression among some, he explained, that matter for carriage by air must be taken to the main Post Office and placed in a special box. An interesting guide to world events can be taken from solar activity, according to Mr W. G. Gardner, who gave an address at the Astronomical Society last evening. When solar activity was at a minimum history showed that wars were frequent. Since 1900 there had been four distinct periods of minimum solar activity, and during those periods there had been five wars. At the present time there was a minimum of solar activity, and in keeping with past facts there was now the ItaloAbyssinian WaA When solar activity was at a maximum it was the time for earthquakes, plagues, and epidemics. The birth rate was also found to rise and fall with solar activity.

The request from the Art Gallery Society for permission to • extend the gallery to tne south, to counteract the dampness in one section of the building, has been declined by the University Council. At yesterday’s meeting the Students’ Association advised that it considered that it would not be in the interests of the student body to forgo a piece of ground 20ft out from the present south wall, bringing it within Oft of the fence, as that would prevent the plan of building a small grand stand or stadium on the north side of the Oval in the future. The council accepted the views of the Students’ Association, “ The tractor has certainly not yet replaced the horse,” said a Dunedin saddler to a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day. The saddlery trade is exceptionally busy just now, he stated, a big improvement being noticeable dnringythe last six months. No experienced men are out of work, and no apprentices have been engaged for a number of years. Similar remarks apply to the trade in the North island. He said that it was obvious that the farmers were opening up more grounds and using more horses, while the approach of the D.J.C. races has also made things busier, “ Drink more milk ” is the slogan of an increasing number of people in Dunedin. and one milk bar proprietor told a ‘ Star ’ reporter to-day that his output at the present time was up to what it was in the summer, and this, he said, applied to the Wellington branch of his firm. Many business men have substituted the milk drink in morning and afternoon for the previously recognised morning and afternoon tea, and there is no doubt that when milk is being consumed in such largo quantities, the milk bars are a very valuable adjunct to the dairying industry. Application has been made from Dunedin for the continuance by the Government of the subsidy which has been granted in the past to enable relief organisations during the winter months to sell meat to those in receipt of relief at reduced rates. The subsidy, which amounted to I jd a lb on all meat sold at the meat depots, was discontinued as from May 31 on the ground that the recent substantial increases in relief rates would improve the lot of those on relief An application made by Auckland to have the subsidy reinstated in order to assist the families of the men on sustenance has been granted, and in view of that it seems likely that a favourable reply Avill be made to the Dunedin request. In Auckland the Government has agreed to continue the subsidy till September 30. Advice has been received by. the secretary of the Education Board (Mr G. W Carrington) from the Minister of Education (Hon. P. Fraser) that Cabinet has approved of a grant for the erection of an additional class room at the Wakari School. At tins school, which has gone up in grade through increased attendance, it has been necessary for some time to conduct class in the gymnasium, and the provision of a new room, will satisfy a much-felt requirement.

Cabinet has approved of a grant for the erection of ji new head master s residence at the Oaniaru North School, advice to this effect having been received from the Minister of Education CHon. P. Fraser) by the secretary of the Education Board. Much favourable comment has been made on the decision of the City Council to leave in position for the Winter Show period the street illuminations which were erected several weeks ago for the Made in New Zealand Week. On these dark _ winter _ nights the coloured electric lighting is very effective. and imparts a carnival atmosphere to the streets. The following information has been obtained for a correspondent making inquiries concerning parrakeets. These birds are to be found on Stewart Island, where they are protected. Up to three years ago they wore seen on the Wai-tati-Lcith Valley road. The bird is a native of New Zealand. Apparently some of the insurance companies have now begun to act in an endeavour to eliminate wandering cattle from the country roads. It was reported at last night’s meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce that complaints had been received from insurance companies regarding wandering cattle in the vicinity of Otokia and Berwick. It was understood that the Automobile Association had taken action. Several members agreed that wandering cattle were a danger to car travellers at night, and it was decided that the matter be referred to the Minister of Transport and the Farmers’ Union. The figures in the Returned Soldiers’ Association membership campaign now stand: Dunedin 1,473, Christchurch 1,210.

The idea that only supermen or splitsecond thinkers are necessary as pilots is discounted in local aviation circles. Practically every person can learn to lly, although certain classes of people take to aviation more readily than others. Horse riders and hoxers are found to bo the best aviators. The superman of novels is not welcomed in aviation, one reason being that aeroplanes would bo iu danger, and also for his love of display in uniform. In some flying clubs there is a scale of fines for persons appearing in public in their flying kit. An article dealing with aviation as a profession appears on page two of this issue.