TOWN-PLANNING CRITIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 838, 5 December 1929, Page 10

TOWN-PLANNING CRITIC

SOME IMPRACTICABLE IDEALS

STRIFE INEVITABLE The scope and provisions of the Town Planning Act were very severely criticised by Mr. F. S. Wilding, a wellknown solicitor in Christchurch on Monday last. Mr. Wilding, who is legal adviser to various local authorities, and a member of the Riccartoir Borough Council, predicted that the Town Planning Act would either remain a costly scheme on paper, or, if accepted -would result within the next statutory two years in a change in local government, involving the most far-reaching effects. Two considerations were obvious. First, the birth of a new and costly Government department, which would cost the community a sum in money as yet unestimated. Second, apart from levying rates and petty administration, local bodies from Auckland to the Bluff would be controlled by Wellington in all civic development, and such development will be fixed on paper in advance. The objects of town planning covered an unlimited field. All land, and its natural resources and values were to bo classified and its uses defined. Roads, bus routes, etc., were to be classified. Zoning into shopping, industrial and residential areas was to be proceeded with. Parks, electric and water supply and sewerage were covered also. All levels were to be shown. To accomplish these legislative intentions legislation had been passed without any regard or consideration as to what it would cost the country. The practicability of these “ideals” was also not considered.

The duty now devolving on each local body under the existing law was to form regional planning committees, irresitective of boundaries. It a local body refused to come iu, it couhl be brought in by Order-in-Council. By tlie representation on regional committees, one or more local body areas could, subject to Wellington's control, dictate any scheme to any particular local government area. If a local body had refused to come in the capital value of its land was liable to one-fiftieth of a penny rate.

After approval by Wellington of a town planning scheme suggested and paid for by a regional committee (collected, of course, from the ratepayers), Wellington took permanent control and the regional committee dissolved. "It follows,” continued Mr. Wilding, “that it is now compulsory to contribute to the cost of the preparation of the schemes (whether of use or not), but by the 1929 amendment it is optional whether any local body adopts the scheme. “Therefore it may well be that the cost of preparation may be wasted and if a particular area doesn’t come in, the value of a scheme is nil.

“There are useful provisions in the Acts, and a modified scheme run by an existing department and the Director of Town-Planning, without a costly new board, might be feasible, or might be considered. “The disadvantages are very serious. There is the cost of a large central board under a Minister, and there is the cost of administration by local bodies to be borne by ratepayers. There will be endless strife and objections affecting all areas, and argument over defining the uses of various lands. Money will have to be found to pay for rounding corners and all manner of improvements. “Finally, the administration of the Betterment Fund will be most difficult. Local bodies will incessantly be bringing claims against individuals for betterment; and persons injuriously affected will be bringing claims for compensation.

“Instead of natural civic development, we will have New Zealand mapped out on paper 50 years In advance and fixed permanently, subject only to alteration by the central body; and there may be no Jules Verne in the new Town-planning Department.” Regarding the position with the city, concluded Mr. Wilding, of Christchurch, the original Act had been drastically altered this- year, and that within the next two years, by which time the plans are to be completed, it was likely that the Act would be again altered.