TOWN PLANNING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 18

TOWN PLANNING.

OPERATION OF THE ACT... HON. R. F. BOLLARD'S VIEWS. WELLINGTON, February 15. The first meeting of the recentlyappointed Town Planning Board was held to-day, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Ministei of Internal Affairs, presiding. There were also present: Messrs W. E. Bush, W. M. Page, C. B. Norwood, A. H. Bogle, F. J. Nathan, S. Blackley, W. T. Neill, C. J. M'Kenzie, J. T. Mair. G. P. Newton, B. H. Hammond, and Dr C. E. Hercus. After welcoming the members of the_ board, the Minister said they would have plenty of scope for doing splendid work in the remodelling of our cities and boroughs, and iu the laying out of new ones. The first business of the board would be to consider the town planning regulations. The legislation winch han been passed was not perfect by any means, and it would be for the board to suggest any amendments which it thought desirable in order that the Act and the regulations should be improved. Of course, members of the board and the public would not expect to see immediate results from

the work which had now been inaugurated, but he was sure that future generations would appreciate the improvements and benefits which would flow from the deI liberations of the board and the provisions of the Act. The benefits would be seen in the case of both the larger centres and of the smaller towns, but more especially in the case of the latter. There was a misapprehension in respect of the functions of the board and the carrying out of the Act in some quarters. It was apparently thought that the board was going to alter everything. That was not so, but, liberations of the board and the provisions of the Act. With regard to reserves, the present position was that the Lands Department demanded that 5 per cent, of land in the case of every subdivision over five acres should be set aside as a reserve. Some ot the borough councils had adopted this prac tice, but at present there was no unanimity in practice, and member of the board were asked to give their views on the matter. Mr Bollard then summarised the chief provisions <f the Act and the regulations. It was required that a civic survey maybe prepared, showing the exitsing state of things, also a provisional town planning scheme setting out any’ new proposals. The Town Planning Board might require, such alterations as it deemed proper to be made in the new proposals. Provision was made for the lodging of objections and for the hearing of such objections. The Surveyorgeneral was anxious that the board should give an expression of opinion relative to the existing practice of making reserves when land was subdivided, especially in th j case of land outside boroughs. The. board then resolved itself into a committee to deal with the regulations and certain preliminary matter arising under the Act. •- ,