Town Planning.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 931, 29 November 1933, Page 6

Town Planning.

Failure to Appoint New Director. (“Star” Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, November 29. (CRITICISM was levelled in the House by Mr D. G. Sullivan (Avon) last evening at the fact that it is not the intention of the Government to appoint in the near future a Director of Town Planning in place of Mr J. W. Mawson, who retired from that position some time ago. Discussing the estimates of the Internal Affairs Department, Mr Sullivan said that while there was no provision for payment of the salary of a Director of Town Planning, this year there was provision for £IOO for travelling expenses. He wanted to know if the position was going to be filled, for local bodies were considering and completing town planning schemes, while there was no director to control and supervise the work. Not Prejudiced. The Hon J. A. Young said that the absence of a director did not prejudice the operation of the Town Planning Act and did not relieve local bodies of their responsibility to prepare schemes. The director was not appointed to provide local bodies with plans, as there were quite a number of competent men available. The board was still in existence and met regularly to consider plans submitted, but so far only one plan had come in. "That was from Timaru. Mr Sullivan: One from Christchurch went forward last week. The Minister explained that in the meantime the Government was saving the director’s salary. It was the intention to make an appointment eventually, but that would not take place in the immediate future. Mr Sullivan said that the Minister’s statement as to regular board meetings did not tally with the annual report of the department, which stated that due to economy town planning activities had been restricted and the board had held only one meeting during the year. Fooling with the Question. The Government was simply fooling with the question of town planning, and its failure to appoint a town planner was evidence of that attitude. The Minister explained that the board was sympathetic to the ideals of town planning, but if there was no business to transact it was not worth the expense of bringing members from all over the Dominion. Local bodies had till 1935 to prepare their schemes and steps would be taken to appoint a town planner when i such a course was deemed necessary.