IMPROVING AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 14

IMPROVING AUCKLAND.

Sir, —The largo meeting of delegates representing Auckland local bodies which gathered at the Town Hall recently to discuss town-planning matters, shows that there is a considerable amount of interest taken in the beautification of the northern capital. Will you allow :me to point out a very simple way in which the various local bodies can very largely improve the whole appearance of Auckland and its outer suburbs at very little cost. They can do this by clearing the gorse, blackberry, docks, fennel, solanurn and other noxious plants which grow so luxuriously by the side of nearly every road in the city and the suburbs. Aucklanders are bc:oming somewhat proud of the fact that they have built some of the finest concrete highways in the Dominion. They may have cause for pride in this respect, but I contend that they should feel ashamed to see on each side of these noble highways weeds and rubbish flourishing as if in some deserted country. Quite recently I travelled over that very fine stretch of concrete as far as New Lynn and was astonished to see that the various local bodies permit noxious growths to flourish alongside it. The conditions were even more striking when I turned off the main road to visit the charming district of Titirangi. On each side of the road leading up to the bush-clad hills, which are no doubt visited by thousands of people yearly, gorse and blackberries disfigure it. Gorse flourishes even in the heart of the township of New Lynn and on the various empty building sections. This reminds me that another way to greatly improve the appearance of Auckland and its suburbs is for the local bodies to compel the owners of unused sections to keep them clear of noxious growths and to maintain tidy if not efficient fences. . I have heard Southern visitors express unbounded admiration for the natural beauties of Auckland, but I have also heard them say, "How untidy it is." "What a lot of useless land there must be since so much is growing gorse." In conclusion, I must say that if Auckland local bodies cannot or will not attend Io such matters as I have mentioned, there is very little hope of them being far-sighted enough to support any grea;t town-plan-ning scheme. Abiiieer of Auckland.