THE SURREY PARK SUBURB

Southland Times, Issue 17244, 15 January 1913, Page 6

THE SURREY PARK SUBURB

CHRISTCHURCH COMMENT

The mmlel suburb which a private laml company is proposing to form on the outskirts of Invercargill will be in advance of anything of the kind previously attempted in New Zealand (says the Lyttelton Times). The description suggests that the best principles of modern town-planning have been applied in llte preparation of the scheme, which makes provision for the open spaces and beauty of outline which should be characteristic of every city. It is strange that the task of making a beginning in tliis matter far as New Zealand is concerned should have been left to private enterprise, but we hope that the example which is about to be set in the south will not be lost upon the municipalities of the dominion. Christchurch would be benefited enormously by the operation of well-drawn town-planning regulations during the period of expansion which is before it. Tiie areas at the back of St. Albans, Kendal ton and Spreydon. and the gap between the city and New Brighton suggest themselves at once as spaces which will be closely occupied within the next ten years or so and could lie brought within the scope of a scheme such as Invercargill is considering. There would be no loss and no injustice to the landowners. since the value of their property for building purposes would he actually increased by the provision, on paper, of the wide boulevards, quiet byways and pleasant open spaces which go to the' making of the ideal residential quarter. The necessary statutory power to enforce a scheme may be lacking at tite present lime, but a town-planning law is likely to he put into operation by Parliament within the next year or two. We hope that Christchurch at any rate will not neglect the opportunities which such measure will afford.