TOWN PLANNING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 5

TOWN PLANNING

Institute Annual Meeting

Presidential Address

By Telegraph —Press Association WELLINGTON, October 28.

Discussing regional planning at the annual meeting of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand (Inc.) to-day, Mr M. G. C. McCaul in his presidential address, said that he felt that the most sure method of approach to many of the difficulties that arose with closer settlement and increasing inlustrial life was through the help of regional committees. He referred to the increase in recent years as a result of the development that had taken place in the number of local governing bodies and to the attempt of the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill to relieve the situation that had

become a heavy burden of over-Govern-ment and inefficient Government to a serious degree. He felt sure that wise amalgamations might be facilitated, and unwise amalgamations avoided if regional committees were first instituted. This would permit of local governing bodies with common interests working together on regional committees prior to consideration of any closer union.

Mr McCaul said that apart from questions of amalgamation, it seemed to him that the steadily Increasing number of problems arising that affected two or more local governing bodies, and which could not be solved by one without the active co-operation of others, had made the formation of regional committees desirable and essential to the efficient working of the local body system of government. If local governing authorities did not show sufficient foresight to form such committees from their own personnel, he felt sure it was only a matter of time when many of their powers and responsibilities would be assumed by the State to the serious weakening of the system of local body government. In the setting up of regional committees care would need to be exercised to confine the scope of their operations solely to matters of regional importance, said Mr McCaul, for otherwise difficulties would arise with constituent authorities.

Officers Elected

At the tenth annual meeting of the Town Planning Institute of New Zealand at Wellington to-day, Mr M. G. C. McCaul was re-elected president.

Other officers were elected as follows: Vice-presidents, Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C. and E. H. Andrews; council, Messrs A. H. Bridge, N. C. Haigh, W’. H. Gummer (appointed by branches), H. F. Butcher, R. B. Hammond, G. D. Ummond (representing the New Zealand Institute of Architects), A. J. Baker, A. R. Galbraith, W. E. Ak'd (representing the New Zealand Institute of Engineers), F. C. Basire, C. O. Barnett, G. N. T. Goldie (representing the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors), A. M. Fletcher, M. G. McCaul, E. H. Andrews, E. Anscombe, F. B. Stephens, Hon. T. Bloodworth (representing other members); honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr G. Drummond; secretary and treasurer, Mr H. B. Burdekin.