TOWN PLANNING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20060, 29 March 1927, Page 3

TOWN PLANNING.

MR R. B. HAMMOND ENTERTAINED. Yesterday Mr 11. B. Hammond, Director of Town Planning, who is on a visit to Dunedin, was entertained at luncheon by members of the University Club Ihere was a large attendance. Mr A 11. lonkiusou -occupied the chan, and < conclusion ot the luncheon buefly mtio duced Mr Hammond. . . ~ Mr Hammond tlien gave a brief addiess on the Town Planning Act, in the course of which he said all town planning schemes would be prepared in accordance with the town planning regulations, these regulations set out the procedure to be adopted with respect to the preparation, submission, and approval of town planning schemes. When a scheme had been provisionally approved by the 1 own i launui"- Board, the responsible local authority was required to publicly notify the same, and to give opportunities for the making and hearing of objections. Objections were to be finally determined by the Town Planning Board. When ..II objections had been heard, and determined, and the scheme, if necessary, had been amended, it was finally approved by the Town Planning Board. As soon as a scheme had been finally approved it became the duty of the council of the city, or borough, to which the scheme related, and others, to give effect to it. So far as the- scheme concerned new works, these must be in conformity therewith. With respect to areas that had already been built upon, no reconstruction works could be carried out that would tend to delay the ultimate bringing of all works in the district into conformity with the approved scheme. The rigidity of this principle, however, was somewhat relaxed by allowing to the Town Planning Board a discretionary power to make concessions in special cases. If the Town Planning Board was, in any case, of opinion that a borough with a population of less than one thousand should prepare a plan, the compulsory provisions of the Act might be extended to that borough, by Order-in-Council; and, without compulsion, every borough council or town board had authority if it thought tit, to prepare a sch< for its district. The Act also made provision for regional planning schemes for rural areas. The first purpose of a regional planning scheme was in relation to the town planning scheme of a neighbouring city or borough. It was impossible, for example, to plan the main thoroughfares of a city or borough, without regard to conditions that obtain beyond the city or borough. Without unduly interfering with the established system of local government, it was not possible to empower any local authority to exercise its functions outside its own district. To overcome this difficulty, the Act made provision whereby county councils might be required, pursuant to Order-in-Council, to co-operate with borough councils, and to produce for the districts under their jurisdiction, or for defined portions of those districts, a modified scheme known in the Act as a “regional planning scheme.” Apart from this modified requirement, the Act had no compulsive application to county councils. The carrying out of the provision of a town planning scheme was declared to bo a public work within the meaning of the Local Bodies Act, thus conferring on the local authorities_ concerned the necessary power in compliance with Uic terms of that Act. to obtain the funds required for the purpose. Ono of tho most valuable powers was contained in section 35, which conferred on local authorities power to approve of plans of subdivision, notwithstanding that any street or building lines shown on tho plan were not in conformity with tho provisions of tho Municipal Corporation Act, 1920, if there was endorsed on the plan the certificate of the Director of Town Planning to the effect that compliance with the_ requirements of tho Municipal Corporations Act was not, in the circumstances, necessary, or advisable, and that the plan was, in all respects, in conformity with recognised and approved principles of town planning. At tho conclusion of tho address Mr Hammond was asked a number of questions, particularly by Messrs Callan and Barrowclough. These were principally a» to representation on the Town Planning Board and surveys. in the course of Jiis replies, Mr Hammond said that it had been mado necessary for every Town Planning Association to bring down a town planning scheme where there was a certain population. Mr Barrowclough suggested that each city should bo lelt to work out Us own schcrao. He was not in opposition. He was never hostile.—(Laughter.) Mr Hammond said that local authorities would have their own problems. In asking a question as to representation oil tho Town Planning Board, Mr Callan said ono wanted to know where these men cinno from, and how many were appointed by tile Ciovornment, or wero Government officials, Mr Hammond said it was a new form of legislation, and they hud little to guide (hem. tt was a matlcr of adopting legislation that had been tried in other countries. At tho conclusion, Dir Hammond was warmly thanked for his address; Mr Callan being requested to move tho motion.