TOWN PLANNING AND THE PRISON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 8

TOWN PLANNING AND THE PRISON

Sir, —In your issue of October 6- Mr. Page Rowe takes me to task for proposing that the prison should be moved to Waitakere Ranges. He speaks of my attitude as one that will render town planning useless, and says that the attitude is a selfish one. May I say at once that I think it is a mistake to introduce questions of motives. Mr. Page Rowe may quite reasonably differ from my ideas, but that does not entitle him to assume that his ideas are worthy and mine unworthy. We shall get on best if we agree that we are equally anxious to make town planning a success, though we may differ in our ideas of how it should be done. In his communication Mr. Rowe is writing with imperfect knowledge of what I said. In speaking of the Town Planning Act, I said there were questions that affected a number of districts, and other questions that were local. Among the local questions I mentioned the removal' of the prison and the construction of a roacj. The road, however, is not through the prison reserve, and does not touch it. It is an old road which has never been opened which runs from Normanby Road to Clive Road, and is within the borough during its whole course.

The reffloval of the prison is another matter. lam not concerned with placing it in the Waitakeres, although I might point out that there are considerable areas there which are not scenic, and where a prison might be placed with a minimum of objection.' What lam concerned with is its removal from its present area. Ido not think that it should remain in occupation of such a valuable site in the midst of a city. Whether the site, if cleared, should be nsed for business purposes or for residential purposes is a matter to be considered later. At present the aim is to render the area available.

Mr. Page Rowe seems to think it desirable that factories shonld all be concentrated in one area. It seems to be questionable whether this is wise. It may not suit every factory, and in that way may hinder development. Offensive trades are likely to be taken out of the town, and many factories are already established on the eastern shores of the Manukau. As far as shipping centres are concerned it seems to me clear that fresh centres will develop in different places as the population grows. Many schemes will be submitted to suit the requirements of many districts. It will be the business of the Town Planning Board to reconcile these plans so 'far as they affect through traffic or joint interests. The area to be considered cannot be limited to any town or city because the question of passing into or out of each town is vital. If town planning is to be effective it must stretch out far beyond the town boundaries, and must, in fact, cover a largo proportion of the province. Mr. Pago Rowe looks forward to the time when all the local bodies will combine. Is such a step desirable ? Should not local interests be dealt with by local men, and general interests by a board, or hoards, elected for tho purpose ? I might point out to him that this is the method adopted in London. Moreover, it is but three years since a commission reported there on the question. The commission sat for a couple of years to ascertain whether it was desirable that the existing boroughs should all be grouped, and the majority decided that the balance of advantage was against such a course. An article in the Edinburgh Review by one of the members of the commission gives an account of the reasons which led to the decision; There is no reason to assume that those who desire, amalgamation are actuated by broader views than those who oppose it. It is a difference of opinion on the methods to be pursued. lam willing to believe that Mr. Page Rowe desires to do the best he can for Auckland, and I would ask him to give me credit for the same desire. E. H. Potter.

Sir, —Tlie Mayor of Mount Eden, Mr. E. H. Potter, has raised the question of improving the look of our city about the gaol parts. I think he is right, and there is no part that is such an eyesore and disgraco to Auckland as Khyber Pass Road, from Boston Road tc King Street, Newmarket. On both sides of Park Road along Khyber Pass the outlook from the main road is moist unpleasant. A great deal of monoy must be made there, as the making of much beer brings plonty of cash to the makers. But from there to the gaol looks dreadful. It is so suggestive that I wonder the makers and dealers in the beer do not spend a little money and improve the look of things. Probably the gaol is in the best place and is so suitable for its sad purpose that it should remain where it is. But the whole of the surrounding part wants the improving hand upon it. The scholars of the Grammar School and the Roman Catholic School should have something better to see every day than what is on both sides of Pa*rk Road in Khyber Pass. The small house by the littlo garden of the council is not a thing of beauty. The little garden is well kept. Here, surely, between their big place and the gaol is a chance for the beer makers to spend a little money in making things look batter. Longnsjoht.