GROWTH OF CITIES

Grey River Argus, 6 September 1939, Page 3

GROWTH OF CITIES

Outstanding Problem 1 ° MENACE TO CIVILISATION. NEED FOR DECENTRALISATION: '■ / AUCKLAND, September 4. ' “The outstanding problem of the present century is that of the never ending growth of the large cities, a process which is going on day by day , at a never-increasing rate,” said Mr. J. W. Mawson, Government director , of town planning, in an address to the Auckland district branch of the New . Zealand Institute .of Architecture. . “Almost every other urban problem , directly or indirectly affecting the welfare and well-being of the human race, is inseparably bound up with this great question. “It has been established beyond question that large cities are disrup- ■ five forces which, unless they can be ; brought under control must ultimately bring about the downfall of civilisation. They are definitely injurious to health through overcrowding, lack of fresh food, sunlight and recreational facilities, and the noisqi, dust and fumes of traffic. They give rise to unemployment and poverty. They bring about moral degradation. Theyjnean a higher cost of living and therefore a lower standing of living in comparison with rural or semi-rural communities. They mean huge economic losses through traffic congestion. Finally, the point to which terrible emphasis has been given by the threat of war, they are extremely vulnerable to aerial bombardment.” Stating that the case made out for decentralisation and urged by the Garden Cities’ Association had never been seriously challenged, Mr. Mawson said that problems such as slum clearance, public health facilities and the relief of traffic congestion were inseparably bound up with this question of decentralisation. “We can turn our attention to the social, economic and technical considerations involved in the establishment of garden cities and satellite towns,” he added, “with the assurance that therein lies the solution to these problems and the hope, possibly the only hope, for the elimination of those disruptive and anti-social forces which are menacing the national welfare and wellbeing of all countries.”