DECENTRALISATION IS VITAL

Cue (NZERS), Issue 5, 15 August 1944, Page 14

DECENTRALISATION IS VITAL

THE allocation of a greater number of industries to provincial centres in order to offset the drift of population to the cities and consequent housing problems; seems a ’vital necessity if New Zealand’s post-war expansion is to be accomplished successfully and with a minimum of difficulty.

The desirability for a vast population increase in the Dominion has been widely accepted and whether or not this will be accomplished by planned immigration or a proposed transference of industries and staffs from the United Kingdom is a matter for decisiin by the authorities. v (

/Nevertheless, an increase seems indicated and prudent planning is undoubtedly required to prevent a further gravitation of 'population towards the four main centres—a factor which is considered by many to be contrary to the best economic set-up of a small country.

City x authorities have always been faced with an acute housing problem. For many years the acquisition of suitable low-priced building sites within city limits has been a big hurdle and in the past prices have sky-rocketed accordingly. The proposal to erect 60,000 houses in the years immediately following the cessation of hostilities will '■ meet with - general approval, but it is emphasised mat their allocation to provincial centres, maintained by a sufficient number of industries, would be a step in the right direction.

Moreover greater scope would'.be furnished to enable the erection of brighter and better homes in the best possible surroundings.

In the past 30 years the populations of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch have doubled mainly through industrial expansion, but sufficient housing facilities have not accompanied this development. Nearly onethird of the Dominion’s population is centred in the four main city areas which also accom-

modate 4080 of the total of 6395 factory establishments, while the number of employees concerned reaches even greater proportions.

In passing, it is .of interest .to note that the population of the main provincial centres, particularly those with harbour facilities, has shown little increase during the same"/ period. Many have

incurred heavy commitments during various stages of development. Consequently, boroughs in the Dominion today , are, burdened with almost one-half of the total local body debt. Clearly, it would seem that centralisation must react to the detriment of the provinces and unless some carefully planned adjustment is made in the near future these towns will become commercially stagnant back-waters. x Instead of constituting a vigorous section • of Dominion life and commerce, there will perhaps, be provided a serious economic problem to be borne by the rest of the country. Furthermore, indications tend towards the belief that unless some alteration is made with regard to the future allocation of industries, these . centres will become greatly depopulated. They are largely dependent on. the prosperity of the farming industries within their . limits and because centralisation has largely diverted produce to city factories and through the four main shipping ports, these communities, instead of becoming vigorous and progressive, have degenerated into the category of glorified shopping towns.

The statement that industries centred in the provinces are not an economic proposition is, in specified instances, contrary to recent achievements. In the setting up of a new industry considerations are mainly' concerned with the proximity of raw materials, labour and a suitable port or railhead. All provincial centres are able to provide these important facilities.;. Also, in the case of New ‘Zealand's own industries it would seem preferable to “have the factories nearest the land from which the raw material is; obtained — a move which is both economic/ and in the interest of these centres, most desirable. Centralisation, which has been vigorously advocated and adopted in .. recent years has. in most instances, been carried out only at the expense of the provinces, each of which is auite capable of suoDorting an additional 50.000 people without any undue’, strain •on nresent resources. ’ : There is no doubting the fact

that a planned economy must, be followed by a planned' allocation of. industry If this procedure is adopted then ‘provincial centres must of necessity receive due proportion. Lower Hutt provides an admirable example of the manner in which industry and a comprehensive housing scheme can go hand in hand and the ease with which an overflow from a city can be directed to the . best possible advantage. ,

7 Construction and town-planning methods in the cities have- been haphazard and the tendency has been towards building the greatest number of houses in the smallest possible areas. These methods cannot in the long run,engender decent living .conditions, and it would, seem that unless "prudent planning is the key-note for postwar population and housing problems, a repetition of past mistakes will be manifest, thus providing the basis for./ a serious slum problem in future years.

Carefully planned decentralisation must eventually bring benefits to the Dominion and the people. "When industry is sited near large residential areas, employees receive every encourage-, ment to/take a pride in their homes—a direct contrast to a situation which entails a daily journey of miles‘to and from an often overcrowded suburb where initiative and ( home-life are severely handicapped. . In many instances the civil service, with its concentration of Government Departments in one centre, can lend itself to decentralisation. ‘ While the necessity for having, the head offices of many departments located in Wellington is fully ■ admitted, nevertheless, it f is maintained that personnel and the administration of some of these / departments could be spread over a greater area

'without any’ appreciable loss in efficiency. The Post and Telegraph Department, Public Works and the State Advances exemplify this in no small degree. Apart from these State controlled institutions there are many others factors which could also assist progress in the- provinces. One in particular, which comes to mind, is the allocation of the ports of call of overseas vessels. No doubt shipping movements around the : Dominion,, particularly /to the main ports, have been guided by many economic factors, including rapid despatch; ' ,r . On The other hand, from a provincial, viewpoint, the forwarding of thousands of tons of produce and the general increase in the total of trans-shipped. cargo hardly appears economic when it is remembered that adequate overseas facilities have been provided at no small cost at other ports, the working and main-

tenance of which often constitute the main economic well-being of these communities. In this light, a revision of industrial potentialities would prove timely and a general policy of decentralisation, where economically practicable, would assist in encouraging a vigorous and progressive growth in pro-

vincial centres. In this, it is maintained, is to be found the solution to many of the economic and social ills which have been accentuated as a result of indus-trially-crowded cities and detrimental housing and living standards. '■ ;