Planning a New Britain

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24735, 11 October 1941, Page 4

Planning a New Britain

, There is no doubt, that Mr Purdom is a man of the highest ability, learning and idealism. He has shown it ;ih : previous books, and he shows lit ■again : ih his latest. The New Order. But the subject of this book, in the .form in which he has tackled it. is too great for him to condense into 300 pages, and the result is that he has been forced to make staggering assertions, as when he declares that ". the man of the new order does not first Took to other leaders, but to himself, to alliance with others who also depend on themselves, and to God. To him everything is possible.” And he piles argument on argument till the unsuspecting. reader finds himselfsuffering from a species of intellectual indigestion. Mr Purdom is forced into trite statements of pious hope, such as, “Houses will be planned and equipped with a completeness and regard for efficiency that will leave the best'housing ’schemes of the prewar period far behind.” He makes confident V prophecies without giving reasons for his- belief, even when it is opposed to current, authoritative opimon. For instance, he declares: “ Concentration of population in the cities will be no longer necessary and the' buildilig of large blocks of flats. so much favoured by architects and some local authorities, will not be resumed.” Many experts in town, planning, such as Geoffrey .Boumphrey in ‘‘Town and Country To-morrow, give conclusive reasons why' blocks of flats to cope with the desirable increase of the population of cities must be developed in the future. Mr Purdom s

The New Order. By C.-B. Putdom.. (Dent;) If 6d,

is' a difficult book to read, not only because so much has been crammed into. so little space, but also because oft)sn his exposition is obscured by, his literary style.! But' despite its faults, faults mainly, caused by the ambitious nature of the subject, front the, point of content this bookTs.one of the most interestingto be , published since the outbreak of warl [ The Nazis have theirs plan for a new world order. This book outlines Saqi answer to .the question “ What have we to offer that :is better, than Nazi Germany? ” It contains a national plan 1 ' for, a New Britain. The author has ‘ .put- forward a definite structure for new nfetional institutions in .which the' unity displayed V-during thej war can be maintained in pOace;. He makes practical proposals for' social organisation to enable the incentive of service to mankind to be- predominant within the framework of - British traditions. Suggestions that haVe been made for improving social conditions,. rebuilding towns, developing a new motive in industry, and bringing greater efficiency into the political system are .here brought together and related to each other. There is much with which we may disagree, but on this we must agree, that Mr Purdom is a keen and capable student of politics and no meat) philosopher. He has been ambitious and courageous, and his book must command the study of those who arc concerned to think what form world organisation must take after the war. E. R. D.