TOWN PLANNING

Southland Times, Issue 20526, 30 June 1928, Page 8

TOWN PLANNING

COMMENT ON ACT REVIEW BY PRIME MINISTER A SUCCESSOR TO MR HAMMOND (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 29. Mr John W. Mawson, h .R.1.8.A., M.T.P.I, London, has been accepted by Cabinet for the position of town planner for New Zealand in succession to Mr Hammond who resigned some time ago to enter private practice.

Mr Mawson’s credentials show that he has had large experience in town planning undertakings and his career is outstanding. The Prime Minister dealing with the appointment, said that there has been some comment as to the restrictions in sub-divi. sions in consequence of the provisions of the Town Planning Act. He stated that the Act facilitated rather than hampered sub-divisions in cities, borougs, town districts and also subdivisions under the Land Act for building purposes as it enabled subdivision to be approved, notwithstanding Jhat any streets or building lines shown on the plans of the subdivisions did not comply with the statutory provisions, provided the Director of Town Planning certified that the plan was in conformity with the recognized and approved principles of the town planning. “It has been suggested,” said Mr Coates, “that the Town Planning Act interferes with private rights. The Act is primarily for the purpose of requiring town planning schemes to be prepared. Legislation does not alter the essential functions of local bodies but merely ensures that those functions shall be exercised in accordance with the scheme and not haphazardly. In order to safeguard private interests, provision is contained in the Act giving persons the right to claim compensation where their lands may be injuriously affected by the town planning scheme.” Referring to Mr Mawson, Mr Coates said: —He is one of the leading lights in the town planning world, being a member of the well known English town planning firm of Thomas Mawson and Sons, Westminster. He has prepared and carried out town planning schemes not only in various parts of England but also in Canada and other parts of the world. Not only does his work speak for itself but he is considered to be one of the leading lecturers on town planning. His organizing and administrative ability is considered exceptional. Mr Mawson is also favourably known outside the Empire, the Director-General of Plans and Surveys of New York, Mr Adams, being greatly impressed with Mr Mawson’s capacity. Mr Mawson would not be a stranger to New Zealand as he spent some two years in the Dominion from 1908 to 1910 and the principal reason he is now accepting the offer is that he had always intended to return to New Zealand at the earliest opportunity. There seems little doubt that the Dominion and all interested in town planning can be congratulated on obtaining the services of a gentleman of Mr Mawson’s wide experience of all matters relative to this far reaching subject.

Mr Coates said that while the Government hoped it might have been possible to appoint a New Zealander to this important position, it was nevertheless felt that it would be to the best interests of all to obtain at this stage the services of an outstanding figure in the town planning world. “The result,” Mr Coates added, “will place town planning in the Dominion on a sound footing and will also give an opportunity to our young New Zealanders to obtain that essential experience in carrying out and preparing under the guidance of Mr Mawson town planning schemes, thus qualifying later to succeed Mr Mawson in his important position.”