TOWN PLANNING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 143, 9 August 1911, Page 6

TOWN PLANNING.

THE GOVERNMENT’S DILI

POWERS Foil LOCAL BODIES

(Per Press Association.) ’Wellington, August 8

The Hon. Mr. Fowlds moved the .second reading ot the Town Rimming Rill. The outstanding feature ol the measure is tiie provision to enable niunicip d bodies to carry out sciienios for ibe improvement of the towns ur.dci I heir jm isdictinn. The Bill is applicable to tiie whole ot the Dominion and all town-planning schemes are in be examined by an advisory body and saneiioned by the (tovernmeiit before they arc carried out. Tire schemes v. iiieii may be earned out under the provisions of the measure are cL.fsi'ied as follows; —I he laying out and construed ion of roads and ,streets and the stopping of any road or street; the laying out end construe tion of drainage and water supply schemes; die lighting of roads and sticets and public buildings; the setting ap.u t and laying out ot land for recreation purposes and public buildings (including public baths), and tiie erection of public buildings; the reclamation of land; the preservation of objects of iiistoi ical interest, or ot natural bounty; tiie acquisition of land for. any of the purposes of a si heme.

A borough council nliich undertakes a scheme* must deliii-3 the area which it iutends to benefit, but ample powers arp proposed to obviate any obstruc-tion-of a scheme by artificial bonndavies. The town-planning area may iiioiuclc tlpr whole nl' a boiongh, or only part of it, or it may include lam! adjacent- to the borough. A comprehensive scheme tor the whole o< a town-planning area may ho undertaken, oi provision may be made for the improvement of defined areas. Any objections to the scheme will ho considered by (lie town-planning board, which will consist of the, Snr-veyor-tlenera! and four other persons appointed by the (lovoriimont. This board will bo merely an advisory body. The power to modify or to disapprove of a scheme is retained by the (Jover-nor-in-Council. Even when a scheme has liooii entered upon it may be varied or. revoked. In those cases in which a townplanning area extends beyond the district of tiie council which prepared the scheme, the local authorities of the other districts must he consulted. The i esponsihiiiiy of carrying out a scheme may be imposed upon one of the local authorities interested, or divided among them, or a joint committee of all the. bodies.

Compensation may he obtained if injury to, property is caused, by tiia carrying out of a scheme,,;but care has been taken to safeguard the in-, terests of the focal , authorities against unreasonable claims., Where a town-planning scheme extends beyond the district of the. council that prepared it, the responsible authority will be authoiiscd to suspend by-laws, and ■make new ones applicable to the whole of the area. In raising a loan for a scheme, a ppli of the ratepayers will not l)o necessary. Air. Kisher said the Hill should be referred to every local body, and the expert opinion of their engineers should be obtained before the measure was placed on the Statute Book. He asked flic Minister to refer the Bill to the Committee to get expert evidenc.

Mr Myers supported the Bill, which, he said, could not he put into force 100 soon, hut lie thought the Minister was wrong in applying the Bill only to places outside the present cities. The Hon. Mr Fowlds informed Mr Myers that he did not propose to separate town areas from the provisions of the .Bill, 'although this could bo clone later if desired. Mr Myers suggested bringing out from Britain or the Continent an artistic town-planner. Mr Luke congratulated the country on having such a Minister as the Hon. (I. Fowicls -in charge of matters of this description. Mi' Luke said he would not support tne 'inilding no of a board conI rel mg of civil servants. Mr McLaren deplored the conditions obtaining in slum areas, and hoped the Bill under consideration would tend to alter the unsavoury and evil state of affairs existing in those parts ol the cities. fie appreciated to the fid! the importance of the Bill, and considered a sound foundation should Ire laid for such, measures. Mr Poole moved the adjournment of the dehate, and the House rose at 10.50 p.m. MILITARY TRAIN INC. i)lmoxatpatiox by jockeys AXi) STABLE BOYS. (Per Press Association) Auckland, August 0 About thirty jockeys ami stihle hoys made a demonstration last oigut against compulsory military training. ! hey marched up Queen Street singing songs, the loader crying “Arc we going to he Sojorsf” the chorus shouting “Xo,” giving vent to a snip of war cries. Arrived at the Drill Shed, where the Highland '»dies wore chilling, the non-combatants formed fours and marched across the hall, hut Ihe police putting in an appearance they made no further demons!ration. Medical examinations are proceeding quietly. THE WEATHER. 'I lie Hovernmoiit Meteorologist telegraphed this afternoon :—Kasterly moderate winds, veering northerly moderate to strong winds; increasing har.iness; glass fall.