TOWN PLANNING WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 30 (Supplement)

TOWN PLANNING WORK.

Need for the Selection of Director. The necessity for the Government to appoint a town planner to replace Mr J. W. Mawson, who retired from that position a year ago, was urged by the Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.), when speaking at the opening of the Town Planning Exhibition yesterday. His remarks in this connection were supported by the chairman, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes. Recalling that he had put this subject before the Government during last session of Parliament, the Mayor said that the appointment of a town planner was necessary for the education of public opinion and to give advice and help to the local bodies which were carrying out this work. There were eleven town planning schemes in the course of preparation at present, continued Mr Sullivan, and it was to be regretted that the Government had not seen fit, up to the present, to appoint a successor to Mr Mawson. Not only were advice and guidance required by the municipalities but they were also in need of inspiration. Ratepayers were not too keen on the spending of money on this work unless they were convinced that it was essential for their own good. An official town planner would also galvanise the local authorities into action, added the Mayor, and he trusted that the Government would soon see that Mr Mawson’s job was filled by someone who was capable of directing the cities and towns along the right way.