478 TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION F, 
factories have been established. The magnitude of Australia’s maritime trade is 
a further justification for defence expenditure, apart from the fact that her 
population and principal cities are chiefly confined to the sea-board and so render 
her particularly vulnerable to attack. 
The most important events in the development of the scheme since its incep- 
tion are here outlined :— 
In 1901 the Deakin Government sent a representative to the Imperial Defence 
Conference in London, at which arrangements were concluded for the establish- 
ment of a Pacific Fleet, to which the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, 
and Australia were to contribute fleet units. Subsequently, the Federal Govern- 
ment asked the Admiralty to invite tenders for battle-cruisers. 
In 1908-9 the Fisher Government gave orders for three torpedo destroyers. 
In May 1910 the Federal Government invited the Admiralty to send out an 
expert naval officer to formulate a scheme of naval defence. As a result of this, 
Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson arrived in September of that year and pre- 
sented his report in March 1911, 
In 1910 the Fisher Government undertook to provide the remainder of the 
fleet unit, and at the present time, with the exception of one cruiser and three 
destroyers, which are in course of construction at the Commonwealth Dockyards 
in Sydney, the Australian fleet unit is in commission. 
With regard to the military scheme, the Deakin Government in 1909 invited 
Lord Kitchener to visit Australia and propound a scheme of Military Defence 
under the Defence Act. Lord Kitchener’s scheme is based on territorial organi- 
sation. 
In 1910 the Fisher Government extended the provisions of the Defence Act 
to provide for adult training. 
SYDNEY. 
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21. 
The following Papers were read :— 
1. Sociological Aspects of Town Planning. By J. D. Fivzarran. 
2. The Health Aspect of Town Planning. 
By Joun Ropgrtson, M.D., B.Sc. 
Town planning in England, as we now know it, was originated to prevent the 
evils which have arisen in the larger towns due to crowding on space, and the 
baneful influences arising from permitting factories and works of all kinds being 
interlarded between dwelling-houses, in such a way as to make these dwellings 
dull and gloomy from the smoke-laden air, and dirty from the soot which gains 
access to the interiors. In most of these large English towns adequate space for 
the healthy recreation of the dwellers in the central areas was not provided, and 
in most instances no attention was paid to the amenities of the district, except 
in a few instances where great natural features existed. 
It is very important that density of population should be limited to enable 
houses to be separated from each other: (1) to allow of sunlight gaining access 
to each inhabited room, (2) to permit of a current of air at all times round the 
house, (3) to allow of privacy in the dwelling without the necessity of covering 
windows completely with curtains, which have been proved to shut out up to 
ninety-seven per cent. of the actinic power of the sun. 
Artisan areas arranged on town-planning lines are difficult to compare with 
good areas on old lines as regards their health statistics. If one makes all 
allowance for selection and class, there still remains so great a difference between 
the statistics of the new and the old conditions as to leave no doubt that in 
actual practice town planning is one of the greatest advances which have been 
made in recent times for the benefit of the public health. 
