Prime Minister Emphatic for Town-planning Bill

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3432, 21 August 1926, Page 9

Prime Minister Emphatic for Town-planning Bill

Urges Trial of Measure in Interest of Progress May Not be Perfect But Can be Amended In the House last evening, the Prime Minister, living up to his reputation as “the man who gets things done,” urged a trial of the Town Planning Bill, in an effort to avoid the mistakes of the past, stating that if not perfect, it could be amended.

[By Telegraph.—Special to "Times.” - ]

WELLINGTON, Last Night. In entering a strong plea for the postponement of the Town-planning Bill, Mr.. H. L. Tapley (Dunedin North), said he wished to move an amendment, to this effect, "Be careful,” warned the Prime Minister, wagging his finger at Mr. Tapley”, and don’t get Into deep water.” "Well,” replied Mr. Tapley, "perhaps I had better leave it to the Government. I don’t want to get Into deep water, I might be drowned.” (Laughter). Mr. Speaker: "Will the hon. gentleman write out the amendment? Several suggestions were handed to Mr. Tapley, and the Prime Minister again warned "be careful of these promptings”. Mr. Tapley moved his amendment for tht postponement of the Bill however. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. R. J. Bollard) said that he was sure the Bill would receive a favourable reception as the question of town-planning had been in the air for years. If It had been introduced 20 years ago, it would have saved local bodies thousands of pounds. Local bodies need not fear that the Bill would deprive them of any of their powers, but on the contrary it would increase those powers. It only dealt with future extensions. The sooner they got the town-planning scheme going, the better for all concerned. > The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. G. Coates) said that the Government appreciated the remarks of members who had spoken during the day. Since he had been in the House, a matter of 14 or 15 years, he had heard town-planning talked of. The Municipal Association had asked for a Bill year after year. It seemed to him that if New Zealand had had a well-thought-out plan which had looked ahead and estimated the growth oi New Zealand many years ago, they would have avoided a number of the situations that had cropped up today. Many of the main cities of New Zealand had been badly and extenslvely laid out, and were now forced with the necessity of widening streets and so on.

In many respects, the EiR resembled the Bill they had had before them the previous day (the Family Allowance Bill). There were people living in the very closely settled parts of the cities, and children wore being brought up under conditions which they dlu not care to think about- Atmosphere meant everything to animal life, particularly to human life. The present was the time to tackle the question. The country was growing rapidly’ and would continue to grow even more rapidly in the future, not only in the cities, but in the boroughs as well. The Prime Minister said that ho felt the Bill was a modest beginning, and they might well put themselves in' the position of the pioneers. If they were going to think of the future a. - all, they had a serious duty in front of them. “This cry of ‘postpone!’ ‘postpone!’ ” said the Prime Mlnisteu Why postpone if wo recognise that an evil exists. Why not got the principles in the Statute Book, and if we find that it docs not work out we can amend it and make it work in with the growth of our country. Wo have got to make up our minds whether we are satisfied with the present condition, and wp have to make up our minds for ourselves, although I admit it is advisable to have a knowledge of local condition. Referring to criticism that had been levelled at the Bill, Mr. Coates said that it had been stated that the Bill would result in centralisation. He refuted that suggestion. When the Board was set-up, under the Bill ti\i first necessity would be education and demonstration, and the Board or Government would have to appoint an expert -whoso duty it would bo to got in touch with the various local bodies and study local conditions. The whole point was whether they “wore satisfied with the cities and towns of Now Zealand or not. Members knew very well that many of the towns In New Zealand wore like Topsy—“they just grew” and Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, had been called upon to absorb boroughs in the layout of which they had had no say.

In conclusion, Mr. Coates described the Bill as important and urgent, and said it should be allowed to go through. The Bill was read a second time.