CIVIC CENTRE COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19391, 28 July 1926, Page 10

CIVIC CENTRE COMMISSION.

It is well that the City Council's select committee, empowered to complete arrangements for the commission to report upon the civic centre project, is expediting those arrangements. The action taken yesterday is a decisive step toward finality. The order of reference is usefully definite. There should not b'e any need to extend it, although the agreement that it may be enlarged under unforeseen necessity is a sensible precaution. What is immediately in view is the determination of the bewilderment about the civic centre long vexing the city's mind. This question will doubtless be considered by the commissioners in its relation to an eventual townplanning programme, but that is in the background at present. Their task is clearly indicated, and the sooner it is accomplished the better will the city be pleased. There is wisdom in the arrangement for doing a certain amount of preparatory work before the commission sits, by the gathering and collation of data. As Sir John Sulman cannot be here until the end of September, the interval can be well used in this way. The committee also may assist materially by arranging for the evidence to be submitted. It should be limited, at the ultimate discretion of the commissioners, to statements by those adequately qualified to be heard. Very much of the commissioners' work ought to be done in reference to facts, plans and suggestions set out in proper form, and those invited to give evidence should be directed to submit beforehand a precis of their ideas, this to be used, as occasion demands, for the guidance of subsequent oral investigation. A merely free-and-easy inquiry would be a waste of time. It would also be a waste of money/for the scale of fees arranged, together with the expense of necessary clerical assistance, might otherwise make this resort to expert inquiry a business so costly as to render the method unpopular with those who have to foot the bill. Town planning is so good a thing that care should be taken to avoid prejudicing it in the public mind by lavish outlay on this restricted application of it. It is a necessity, and must be financed accordingly; but to associate it with avoidable extravagance would lead to its general regard as a luxury that can be done without. Such a result would be in every way regrettable, perhaps disastrous, and therefore the means to be taken to facilitate the findings of the commission should be faithfully and rigorously employed.