TOWN – PLANNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18708, 14 May 1924, Page 12

TOWN - PLANNING.

- JO* REVIVAL OF INTEREST. \ \ ■'] V"T v% "7 s '"''?* ,*> > : ' 1 7 | PROFESSIONAL , ACTIVITIES. THE QUESTION OF RESERVES ' '•■ /• ■;/ : .• ; v." .:■ ' : 'A revival of interest in town-planning in Auckland and other cities ;of the Do- ; Vminion renders the subject of the introduction .of legislation . in this direction r on® 'of considerable importance at/ pre/V\°.-:: sent. : Town-planning.. has been taken up ; , . with enthusiasm in ,the past, s. but ' the V : • movement has lacked the weight of official support and . influence, and, being with- \) out solid" foundation, has been allowed to , die out without any actual results being ■/ obtained.' -• : ' v."

It seems probable'that; the method in which the subject of - town-planning i is now being approached will -yield much more satisfactory; result, and that the introduction of town-planning legislation would put on a definite basis a movement thai will grow in* importance with the passing of - time. , The three professions most concerned in the subject have now combined forces in the matter, and joint committees consisting of members of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors; the . Institute of Architects, and the Society / of Civil Engineers, v;er6 ' appointed Inst ear in '-various centres. Each committee as formulated-proposals indicating the general lines on which, in / their respective ' opinions, " a■/ Town-Planning Bill should bo' framed. ' '

■ These reports have been handed to a . central'committee,' ; consisting -of two members - appointed by the executives of each of the above; professions. ../'. The first meeting of . the central committee was held in Wellington last week, and the next meeting will take place on May 21. The central committee ' will then consider the various, proposals put forward and will > submit|what" it, considers to be the most suitable scheme to the Government for its consideration -in . the; drawing up of a , Town-Planning Bill, which it is. confidently expected will' be introduced dur- ■ ing the coming session. '/;'■; • - , The -importance of a definite town- - planning system in every large community, was emphasised yesterday by Mr. A. if. Bridge,; president of t the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors. ' The' provisions of a Town-Planning i Bill would not apply so much' to sites, already established as to future extensions, said Mr. Bridge, al-' , though , such legislation would also apply - to city 'rebuilding schemes and: civic improvements, -- . -"An / apt illustration of 1 this, so far as Auckland is i concerned, is contained ■■■'■ in _ the : civic . centre : project," said Mr. ; Bridge," " while the widening of streets, and any such future project as the formation of a" great waterfront boulevard, would also come within the, scope;;; of, town-planning . activities. The question of the preservation of Auckland's unique volcanic cones is also a matter of townplanning/ interest.- Another important branch .of activity would be the ■ establishment of the; zoning system in rising communities, this system providing for the classification := of ; certain areas into residential! and industrial sections. Trans- . port, , and establishment of main lines of communication, lighting, drainage, buildings—; these would be included in a comprehensive town-planning scheme such as wo should like to see introduced- in -

." new civic areas." An important feature of any forthcom- ' ■ - ing legislation, continued Mr. Bridge/ y■ v.'ould probably be the introduction of a system to take the place of the , present i: v: i > unsatisfactory -method of securing :: re- '." serves Sin i subdivided areas, which , ; had . / ( been -widely* condemned as serving , no : • xfeeful purpose. Town-plann,ers -generally t were opposed to . the " present . . under wnich five 1 per , cent, of -, anything more than a four-acre subdivision must be given as a public reserve. t. , , v': ' ' This Savours too ' much of confisca'."observed the speaker, ."the small ; areas ; serve -no practical /purpose,: and fewer and % larger pieces of ground would j : be { of i much greater ; benefit.; -Personally, T.-ani in favour of the imposition of ..a ' special stamp duty, ,to bo imposed on all : land ; transactions. The money., thus *ob- :■. tained would ;be paid into a special fund for the purchase of larger recreation : ejntxs instead .of I. the . many tiny "strips which ; y for'the- past three years have been... taken i by the; State without payment. -I understand: that the Surveyor-General has ap- , .. ' proached the ;v- District : Lands . Offices to . obtain their views on the present method >'.. of t acquiring, reserves for public purposes, vV; * and no doubt: the weight of;opinion thus obtained will have, an - important. bearing ; Oft future legislation." ; v v ;