TOWN PLANNING

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 199, 23 July 1926, Page 2

TOWN PLANNING

AN IMPORTANT BILL. INTRODUCED IN PARLIAMENT. [By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.] • WELLINGTON, July 22. An important bill on town planning, which will be submitted for criticism to the Municipal Conference and the Counties’ Conference, was introduced in the Bouse of Representatives this afternoon.

The matters to be dealt with in connection with town and regional planning schemes are as follow: (1) Roads, streets, private streets, private wrnys and footways, including proposals for the closing, alteration or diversion of any existing road, street private street, private way or footway, and proposals for new roads, streets, private streets, private or -footways. (2) The fixing of building lines with particular reference to tlieir position on the allotment and in relation to any road or street or to other buildings, their density character, height, and harmony in design of facades. (3) The reservation of land for afforestation purposes or for recreation grounds, ornamental gardens, parks, children’s playgrounds, and other open spaces. . (4) The preservation of objects of historical interest or natural beauty.

(5) Systems of sewerage, drainage and sewage disposal. (6) Systems of lighting and water supply, (7) The definition of areas to be used exclusively or principally for specified purposes or classes of purposes. (8) Provision for amenities. (9) Ancillary or consequential works. The general purpose .is expressed in the bill to be “the development of the city or borough to which it relates so as most effectively to promote < its healthfulness, amenity, convenience and advancement.” _ In regard to regional planning schemes for rural areas the first purpose is in relation to the town > planning scheme of a neighbouring city or borough. It is impossible, for example, to plan tbe main thoroughfares of a city or borough without regard to the conditions that obtain beyond the city or borough. Without unduly interfering with the established system of local government it is not possible to empower any local authority to exercise its functions outside its own district. To overcome, this difficulty the bill makes provisions whereby county cofincils may be required, pursuant to Order-in-Council, to co-operate with borough councils and to produce for the districts under their jurisdiction or for defined portions of those districts a modified scheme known in the bill as a "regional planning scheme.” Apart from this modified requirement the bill has no compulsive application to county councils. It is proposed to manage the scheme by means of a board and a director of town planning, members of the board to get only their travelling expenses, the board to consist of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the director, a member appointed on the recommendation of the council of the Society of Civil Engineers, one person appointed, on the recommendation of the .council of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, one person appointed on the recommendation of the council of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors, two persons appointed on the recommendation of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, one. person appointed on the recommendation of the New, Zealand Counties’ Association, the sur-veyor-general, the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department, and the Government architect, and not more than two other persons appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Internal Affairs.