Town Plans Needed by Local Bodies

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1939, Page 4

Town Plans Needed by Local Bodies

[Per Press Association. Copyright .l WELLINGTON, This Day.

The Prime Minister, Mr Savage, who is acting-Minister of Finance, said yesterday that his attention had been directed by the Local Government Loans Board to the need, on the part of many local bodies throughout the Dominion, to carry out proper civic surveys before embarking on further development work in the areas under their control.

Mr Savage said that one phase, the development of housing, which was proceeding apace in most of the centres of population, demanded planning for the future as well as the present needs of the community, and these needs could not be satisfactorily provided for unless the foundations for subsequent development were well and truly laid on modern town planning lines. Civic Surveys Advised. The Loans Board had acquired a good knowledge of the problem in the course of its deliberations on the application of local authorities for sanction to borrow for public works of various kinds, and Mr Savage said the experience of the board was that the need for civic surveys and proper town, planning was very real, * The Government had done its part in the appointment of a town planning officer, the benefit of whose knowledge and advice was available at all times to local authorities.

Mr Savage said he felt he could rely on local bodies themselves to do their part in carrying out this important and necessary work.