TOWN PLANNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19455, 11 October 1926, Page 8

TOWN PLANNING.

Sir, —In reply to Mr. Potter's courteous comments upon my article _ oil "Town Planning and the Boroughs," let me assure him that I had no intention of impugning his good faith. I am quite ready to believe that his views are the result of a sincere wish to do that which is best for his borough and for Auckland. In saying that the idea of preserving the boroughs as they exist to-day is a selfish policy, I have cast no reflection whatever upon Mr. Potter's sincerity of purpose. Much less do I assume that, because I do not agree with his point of view, it is any less worthy than mine. It is obviously not necessarily discreditable to hold a certain opinion, even if it is a wrong one, although only too much argument is carried on under that absurd assumption. It is also quite possible to promote a policy which is, in effect, selfisß without idealising the fact, and in perfect good faith. The creation of these boroughs, the science of town planning not being operative at the time, was in a sense justified, and very great credit is due to their successive Mayors and councils for the way in which they have developed these areas. But Auckland has since grown up into a city in every sense of the word, and shows clear promise of becoming a very large city indeed. Much of its more central areas "is already covered by the maximum of building possible, a condition which presents an irresistible demand for expansion. An inevitable process of absorption began over forty years ago, by the amalgamation with the city of the highway districts of Ponsonbv, Karangahape and Gvafton. Later on Parnell, Archhill, Grey Lynn, Remuera, Eden Terrace, Epsom and Point Chevalier were merged into the city area. Newmarket remains an isolated monument to reaction, and, with the other remaining boroughs, has been (resisting the call for unification, long before town planning came within the region of practical politics. Up to this point the process of absorption has been the response to immediate needs. That these local entities agreed to merge themselves into the larger whole proves that tliey had developed a measure of civic consciousness which forbade their clinging to the parish pump. But now that townplanning principles are to direct the growth of our towns and cities, the urgency of the moment must yield to a larger expediency. The City of Auckland is to be planned, not only to meet present requirements, but the requirements of the future. The execution of this plan must, of course, be spread over many years, and must be of such a kind as to be capable of variations when necessary. Nevertheless the immediate field of operations which must be taken as soon as the plan is approved will certainly include some parts, at any rate, of the "remaining boroughs, and their continued separate existence will prevent the accomplishment of the. plan, both now and in the future. As to the factories, 1 did not say that "they must be all concentrated in one area." I said, "area or areas." Town planning treats the city as a whole, and, by zoning, locates factory, business and •residential areas, not only where their individual requirements will be served best, but where, they will harmonise with the general well-being and convenience. Mr. Potter says: "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." By which I take him to mean that local interests must be preserved. That is quite true. Any plan which does not do so will be a bad plan. But if each of these boroughs is to retain its present powers, the power to say: "This part of (he plan you may carry out, but. this you may not, because it impairs our separate existence," the planning of Auckland will make little headway. Probably the boroughs would not state their objections quite so frankly as that, but it is this insistence on continued separation which is the body of the whole impasse. The perpetuation of the boroughs around London is scarcely pertinent to Auckland. When Auckland approaches anything like the size and population of Greater London the parallel may be established, 1/it not to-dav. W. Page Rowe.