TOWN PLANNING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17076, 1 September 1917, Page 5

TOWN PLANNING.

HON. RUSSELL INTERVIEWED

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 31.

The special committee set up by the Town Planning League's conference to make recommendations to the Minister of Internal Affairs in regard to proposed town planning legislation, waited on Hon. Russell to-day. The deputation comprised Messrs Parr, Payne and Ell, M.P.'s, Hon. Paul, M.'L.C, and S. Hurst Seager (Christchurch).

Mr. Parr said they were strongly impressed with the South Australian Act and they ventured to bring before the Minister some of its basic princples, which, they thought applicable to New Zealand.

Mr. Seager said the deputation hoped the Minister would give favourable consideration to the question of housing so that proper provision might be made for garden suburbs, workers' dwellings, etc.

The Minister thought that probably there would be no difficulty in making the necessary arrangements for town planning so far as future extensions were concerned, but the problem affecting towns in existence was: where was the money to come from? The Department had already been instruced to take steps to prepare the general structure of the Bill for consideration. He was afraid he could not hold out much hope of the Bill being put upon the Statute Book this session, but if they could get it printed the subject could be discussed during the recess. At the back of the question lay the subject of finance. Town planning could be done, he thought, if a loan could be floated and a long- time allowed for building up . a sinking fund, but he did not think there was the slightest chance of the State footing the Bill. Whatever was done must be done by the local bodies. If a poll were taken, many ratepayers were so apathetic that they would oppose the scheme, objecting to pay the extra ss. per year in rates. If a scheme were formulated by a local authority, gone through by the Government experts and, as a final safeguard, approved by the Minister, he did not know whether they should not give the local authority power to borrow without the authority of the ratepayers. He did not know jwhether that would be considered {democratic, but he thought the point ■^j^have to be considered.