Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 6

Public Opinion

REGIONAL PLANNING Sir, —I have been away on a professional engagement and arrived homo on Saturday and your paper containing Air Alawson’s letter was placed before me. I must appeal to you for space to reply. Air Alawson asks me “to keep an open mind on the subject.’’ Alay I assure him my mind is always open for good and may I also offer him my sympathy on this fact, that unfortunately my visions and my contentions are already coming true, for tho Afayor of Wellington is now realising that the Town Planning Act has come homo to roost, and that all its pcnalitis have to bo met and this good Alayor feels it very badly. It simply means you cannot operate this * 4 Act” without fleecing tho ratepayers. Somebody has got to pay for it. The old rectangular style of town planning is unsuited for this ago and now to carry out to its full jurisdiction the scientific and practical features as laid down by the Town Planners to-day. An expert says: Owing to the undulating topography upon which many of its towns are built New Zealand is a Town Planning paradise,” and if one adds the urban and regional areas I would say it will be a glorified paradise for the Town Planners. We are, therefore, confident New Zealand can only be guided and directed towards carrying out the most modern style by councils’ aiming and directing that all plans by their engineers shall be based on tho model of the new style of planning and the present difficulties to gradually conform those to what is best and nearest to the model. Councils to bo forced by “Acts” to carry out this modern stylo will find the country cannot carry the burdens.

Councils’ by-laws can protect them selves against anything detrimental Io the public health and local authorities can demonstrate the principle of equity and social justice, even without this ‘‘Act” being in force. Surely Air Alawson does not think + hat I am so dense as to accept of his contentions on my remarks in a former letter on “heavy burdens” which he says: “provides the strongest possible argument in favour of the necessity of town planning.” Logically such argument has not a foot to stand on. Air Alawson’s other charges of “fundamentally wrong,” “hopeless,” I am sorry, but I hope the mixture I was not too strong. I am trusting that the Planning Board will logically explain—“do not commit anybody to anything.’’ What will be the powers of local representatives on local planning committees? Will they be like representatives on school committees? 1 could mention other points but time does not permit me and as I am firmly convinced, councils will not take upon themselves this “Regional Act.” JOHN CAMERON Alay 6, 1939.