PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J. 735 
in the future can only be realised by those who have seen and 
observed the planning of the new quarters in the continental 
cities of Europe. It is of the greatest value for traffic, and of 
inestimable worth for architectural effect. And of these enlarge- 
ments the central square or reserve would of necessity be the 
finest. Such a grouping of public buildings around it as I have 
suggested would give importance to even a small town, and form 
another example of the value of combination as opposed to 
separation. Together, their effect would be doubled; separated, 
it would be halved. 
LEGISLATION. 
Where a new town is laid out on Government land it would be 
easy to adopt a new system of planning, but I have little hope in 
this direction. The bonds of routine are too strong. In those 
laid out by private enterprise, the principal and, I may almost 
say, only aim is to produce the greatest cash return at the lowest 
outlay. At present it is believed this may be done by the 
rectangular system. On the ground of the public health and 
well-being, I think it is perfectly legitimate that the almost 
absolute freedom to lay out a town anywhere, and in any fashion, 
should be somewhat limited, and such limitation would prove in 
the end a gain to the promoters as well as to the public. I would 
therefore suggest the following regulations as reasonable :—1. 
That the erection of buildings for human occupation be absolutely 
prohibited on flooded land; 2. That no town be laid out on soil 
of unhealthy character, such as a morass or over an impervious 
subsoil; 3. That no title be registered for any allotment less than 
1-20th of an acre in area, and that no lease containing a building 
covenant be valid for any site of less area (the object of this 
clause is to limit density of population and insanitary conditions) ; 
4, That the area of streets and reserves be equal to one-third the 
area leased or sold for occupation; 5. That no town or suburb 
contain a greater area than one square mile, with a belt of 
reserved land at least 3th of a mile in width between the same and 
the adjoining suburb; 6. That before any land is sold or leased 
in allotments, if less than one acre in area, official sanction to the 
plans be obtained, and that this sanction be withheld unless a 
satisfactory scheme of drainage and water supply be submitted at 
the same time, but for future realisation. At the present time, 
when it is beginning to be understood that the land is the heritage 
of the whole people, and its absolute ownership is permitted to 
individuals only as a matter of convenience, the right of the 
community to enforce provisions against misuse is, I think, 
undoubted ; and when this misuse takes so glaring a form as 
originating conditions that must inevitably tend to produce 
diseases it is the absolute duty of the State to interfere. As in 
medicine, so in legislation, “‘ Prevention is better than cure.” 
