DIRECTOR OF TOWN PLANNING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 29 November 1933, Page 9

DIRECTOR OF TOWN PLANNING

POSITION STILL VACANT (From “The Mail’s” Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, 2Sth November. Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) asked if the position of Director of Town Planning was to be left vacant. He said town planning schemes were at present being considered by local bodies, and some had been finalised, but there was no officer to supervise the work. Was it the Government’s intention to allow the Town Planning Act to go by the board altogether. The matter was a serious one for local bodies which were endeavouring to carry out the law of the country. j The Hon. J. A. Young said the' atlminstration of town planning was in no way prejudiced because there was no town planner. Some local bodies had an idea that the town planner’s duty was •to advise them on tliej> plans, but that was not the case. Local bodies had to appoint tlieir own town planners. The Town Planning Board itself was functioning and the plans were submitted to it for approval la the meantime, the Government was saving the salary of the director, but it was intended to eventually appoint a successor to Mr J. W. Mawson.

Mr D. G. Sullivan (Labour, Avon) said the Town Planning Board had met only once last year. The Government \yas fooling with the i|uestion of town planning, and its failure to appoint a town planner was evidence ot that attitude. While Mr Mawson bad been the town planner lie bad met local bodies, given them information and prepared them for town planning schemes. Town planning was not becoming an unutterable farce. The Minister said the board met when required and members were sympathetic. If there was no business to transact it was not worth the expenditure to bring the board members together from all over the Dominion. As far as local bodies were concerned they had up till 1933 to prepare and submit schemes. Mr Sullivan said the whole selieme would hang fire till a director Was appointed. Mr Young said-steps would be taken to make the appointment at the right time.