THE GARDEN CITY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 18, 26 February 1914, Page 8

THE GARDEN CITY.

ADDRESS BY DR. J. W. BARRETT. At the King's Theatre last evening Dr J. W. Barrett gave a lecture on '' Town Planning," illustrated by limelight views. Dr Barrett, who is a Melbournian and a vice-president of the English Townplanning Society, was introduced by the Mayor, Mr H. Holland. In opening his address the lecturer said he proposed to show not what it was proposed to do, but what had been done. He commented on the modernity of the large aggregations of humanity in cities —an event wholly unforeseen and not provided for, and largely due to the growth of £he populations and the productivity of new countries. The surplusage of food products in these countries, combined with the invention of cold storage and means of swift transit, had brought about the aggregation in cities of huge bodies of people engaged in manufactures. The unweildy accumulation had come into, being during the last hundred years, and it was only within recent years that it had been recognised a radical change in the conditions of life in the cities was necessary if the intellectual, moral, and physical, well-being, of the city-dweller was to be properly fostered. The garden city was one result of this realisation. It was realised that to get the best citizens healthy conditions of life must be provided and people taught how best to use their leisure. Several illustrations were shown of the parks, architecture, playing grounds, and general conditions of the one preplanned garden city of England, Lechworth, and many other pictures of garden suburbs in England, Germany, and America. The lecturer pointed out how beauty, utility, and healthy conditions could be achieved more cheaply than over-crowded unsightliness. It .was demonstrated how scientific care, deliberate thought for public welfare, could produce the best of conditions and make a better return in real values than the hap-hazard development of miles of stereotyped terraces and crowded yards. / In contrast to these reforming influences in the Old World, the lecturer showed some views of congested areas in Sydney arid Melbourne—places,' built without regard to or individual decency, and without any heed being paid to climatic conditions. There was urgent need for the remedying of these defects in young communities, while there was time, and before the expense of reconstruction increased. The point that combination and system in planning meant greater effectiveness as well as less cost was stressed, and the importance of good surroundings to the efficiency of the individual, and the State Consequently, was the underlying moral of the discourse. At the conclusion of the address the Mayor remarked that a delegation of members of the British Town-planning Association would arrive in New Zealand in a few months' time, and would deliver five lectures in Christchurch. A vote of thanks to. the lecturer, proposed by Cr J. M'Combs and seconded by Cr George Scott, was carried with applause.