TOWN PLANNING IDEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 122, 26 May 1938, Page 2

TOWN PLANNING IDEA

SI AILMENT Bl MINISTER NO CONFISCATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY [ Per Pre -e Association.] WELLINGTON, May 25. “Town-planning is not properly understood,” stated the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, addressing a meeting of the Townplanning Board to-day. He thought that this was largely because ’of apathy and partly because it had been misrepresented, sometimes by misguided enthusiasts and sometimes by vested interests. Many people wrongly saw it in either an unwarranted interference with, or even confiscation of. pr perty rights, or just another device for thinking up projects on which to expend the ratepayers' money. Mr x'arry gave an assurance that the Government never would stand for anything in the nature of confiscation of property rights. What had to be done in the public interest ii< the way of purchasing such rights would be done, as in the past, after full inquiry and payment of compensation assessed by the Compensation Court.

The Minister said that in view ot the social security legislation an amendment to the Town Planning Act would have to stand over till after the general election. Although the Government was sincere in its relief in the social and economic aavantages of town planning, there was no escaping the fact that there was no great public demand for it at present.