TOWN PLANNING FOR HEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13531, 27 July 1914, Page 4

TOWN PLANNING FOR HEW ZEALAND.

There is not the slightest doubt that the mission of Mr. W. R. Davidge, F. 5.1., A.R.1.8.A., A.M.I.C.E. (London County Council), and Mr. C. C. Reade in favour of town planning has aroused considerable interest throughout theI'Dominion (says the Dunedin "Star"). Mr. Reaxle spent a very busy month preparing for the reception of his distinguished colleague, and has been inundated with inquiries and requests for lectures. "The interest in town planning," he says, "is a fair indication that many people in New Zealand are eager to see their towns and cities progress on more comprehensive lines and with a greater considerations'for civic attractions, orderliness, and beauty. Too many of our towns straggle into existence along the lines of an old-fashioned checkerboard plan. The consequence is their appearance is often monotonous and characterless. To remedy this, it is essential that they should be acquainted with'■'what town planning has done and is doing in England and Germany, in France, America, and other conn tries. It is also essential that they should realise the tremendous burden and strain put upon the cities of other countries through neglecting to look ahead and avoid the evils of ill-con-trolled growth, congestion ~ and overspeculation in land. If New Zealaad neglects the lesson of Europe and America, or fails to be guided by their misfortunes and social tragedies', her cities must sooner or later be plunged into a similar economic and social morass to that which in' the last 50 years hr.s choked and stultified millions of lives in the slums and congeries of western civilisation.

"Town-planning is not merely a matter of drawing a number of lines on paper or beautifying a few streets and public squares: it is something much deeper, which seeks to rectify the mistakes and blunders in civic life arising from want of proper forethought and care beforehand."