TOWN PLANNING.

Progress, Volume VIII, Issue 2, 1 October 1912, Page 61

TOWN PLANNING.

The subject of town planning which has been arousing such world-wide interest of late,, formed the theme of a paper read before the Otago, Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects at Dunedin, on August 26th, by Mr. Leslie D. Coombs, A.E.1.8.A. Mr. Coombs mentioned that he was in London during the Town Planning Conference of 1910, and described his visit to the exhibition of drawings and models in connection with the Conference and

the vast number of designs by English, Colonial, American, Dutch, etc., etc., artists. He said:—“The first thing I noticed, was that the types of plans from the various countries varied considerably. They showed that what must be considered good planning in one country was not so in another. _ In other words, that the people, their characteristics, the countries, the climates, etc., govern designs. Therefore, if we desire to plan our New Zealand towns and villages in the way to obtain the best results, we must study local conditions and use our own common sense. It would be foolishness to copy the huge American schemes

of cold magnificence or the forced picturesque German so called “model towns.”

Without doubt we can learn many things from each and every country, hut such lessons will be more of the nature of what not to do than of how to act. We must educate ourselves, and must use our own common sense in providing schemes for New Zealand towns.

It seems to me that future progress depends upon the adoption of some method of general education that will bring about an appreciation of good proportion, refined outline, harmonious colour and reasonable design. This sort of real education will

go far to remove the problem vexing the general public of to-day in respect to the proper development of our cities." In connection with this subject it will interest Wellingtonians to know that Mr. Hurst Seager, of Christchurch, is to give a lecture on town-planning on October 14th. The Arts Club, we believe, was instrumental in inducing Mr. Seager to come to Wellington to lecture on one of his favourite subjects. There will be no charge for admission.