TOWN PLANNING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20448, 30 June 1928, Page 14

TOWN PLANNING.

A NEW DIRECTOR. MR JOHN W. MAWSON APPOINTED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 29. Mr John IV. Mawson, F.R.1.8.A., M.T.P.1., London, has been accepted by Cabinet for the position of director of town planning in Now Zealand in succession to Mr K. B. Hammond, who resigned some time ago, to enter private practice. Mr Mawson’s credentials show that lie has had a largo experience in town planning undertakings, and his career is outstanding. In announcing the appointment, Mr J. G. Coates expressed regret that it had not been possible to appoint a New Zealander to the office. It was felt by the Government that Mr Mawson’s qualifications were of such an outstanding nature that an effort should be made to obtain bis services, as it was believed that the appointment would be in the best interests of town planning at the present stage. Negotiations had resulted in his accepting the position, for five years. Ho would probably tr.ke up his duties at the latter end of September. It had been suggested that town planning interfered with private rights. The Act was primarily for the purpose of requiring townplanning schemes to be prepared. The legislation did not alter the essential functions of local bodies, but merely ensured that those functions should be exercised in accordance with the scheme, and not haphazardly. In order to safeguard private interests provision was contained in the Act giving persons the right to claim compensation where their lands might be injuriously affected by a town-planning scheme. The duties of the town planner wore primari'y of an a-'-'-.-.y nature.