218 COMMISSION OF CONSERVATION 



modifications will be necessary, as experience is gained, until a satis- 

 factory measure can be evolved. 



The Term "Town Planning" 



The use of the term "town planning," in connection with legis- 

 lation dealing with the planning and development of rural and urban 

 land, has led to confusion and misunderstanding, and it is not surpris- 

 ing, therefore, that the suitability of a town planning Act to regulate 

 both rural and urban development has not been sufficiently appre- 

 ciated even in the provinces where legislation has been passed. 



What is called "town planning" is intended by statute to mean 

 urban and rural planning and development. The British Act, which 

 is the precedent for legislation of this character, and some Canadian 

 Acts, are in some respects more applicable to rural than to urban 

 areas and, — although their general object is to secure amenity, proper 

 sanitary provisions and convenience in connection with the laying 

 out of land for building purposes, — their operation is largely restricted 

 to land that has not already been built upon. Hence they chiefly 

 apply to suburban, semi-rural and rural land "likely to be used for 

 building purposes," and not to the remodelling of portions of towns 

 already built upon. 



Planning in Britain 



A considerable proportion of town planning schemes in England 

 are being prepared by rural district councils* and most of the land, 

 included in all the schemes being prepared, is rural in character. 



In the great majority of cases the English schemes are being 

 prepared by municipal surveyors or engineers, and comparatively 

 little expense is being incurred in connection with their preparation. 

 For instance, the Ruislip-Northwood scheme deals with an area of 

 over 5,900 acres, of which only 437 acres were "in course of develop- 

 ment" in 1913. The cost of preparing a scheme of development for 

 this area, in anticipation of the growth for the next 50 or 100 years, 

 was only $5,000. The ultimate estimated cost of carrying out the 

 scheme, namely $150,000, will be spread over the period during which 

 the scheme is being carried out and as assessable value increases. 

 It may reasonably be claimed that the Ruislip-Northwood council 

 has, as a result of the preparation of this scheme, laid a foundation 

 for future development which will insure health, convenience and 



* Out of the 123 planning schemes in progress in England, since 1909, 106, 

 dealing with 157,925 acres, are being prepared by urban authorities, while 17, 

 dealing with 50,230 acres, are being prepared by rural authorities. 



