CIVIC CENTRES,

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16816, 7 June 1926, Page 6

CIVIC CENTRES,

SIR J. SULMAN’S LECTURE. The sixth of twenty Vernon Memorial lectures on town planning in connection with the Sydney University Extension Board was given by Sir John Sultnan at tide Royal Colonial Institute, Sydney. -A severely utilitarian citizen,” said Sir John, “may question the need ot a civic centre at alt, but even such an one must admit that it is more economical in administration to group buildings amongst which there is much in-Icr-communieation, than to have them scattered.' As to their inspiring effect, in fostering civic pride there can be na question at alt, while it cannot be too strongly enforced that civic pride 14 the basis of ail civic progress.”

A scries of lantern slides, showing plans and views of the great civic and governmental centres of the world, was shown, and commented en in de< tail ’ey the lecturer. During Hie 25 years. lie said, American cities had enthusiastically adopted schemes for

grandiose civic centres. The great Exposition at Chicago in 1873 had shovva bow the artistic groupinj or fine buildings produced an overpowering effect as against the buildings scattered about a eily.

There were hundreds, of cities in the United Flairs, all more or less rivals for commercial supremacy, and a line civic centre became, a symbol of prosperity, and a:; excellent advertisement. Hence the citizens were willing to subscribe She funds required to inaugurate a scheme, ami usually had suflleient power lo influence the local authorities to eary it out.. Sir John showed interesting plans for the laying out of Canberra, in which tiie civic centre was entirely distinct from the governmental centre.