SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEW AGE VOL. VIII. No. I. THURSDAY,NOVEMBER 3, 1910. A SYMPOSIUM ON TOWN-PLANNING. Conducted by Professor PATRICK GEDDES. IN editing this Supplement, or rather Symposium, let I have replied to all the questions in the affirmative. me first return thanks for friendly replies from many Geddes knows my general views. who write that their time and cares have prevented (Signed) J. B. them from replying to the (perhaps too comprehensive) (The question relating to the New Act was not put questionnaire sent out by Huntly Carter, General to Mr. Burns.) Editor of NEW AGE symposia:-The Earl of Crewe, An encouraging answer, yet not without its difficul- K.G., the Bishop of London, Sir William Richmond, ties, for to state general views for another, however R.A., Sir Ralph Neville, K.C., Herbert Vivian, J.P., fully one may think one understands and feel M.P., Colonel Roberts, Mr. Harold Shawcross, Mr. one sympathises with them, is not an easy matter to John Slater, Vice-Pres. R.I.B.A., Professor Percy accomplish satisfactorily to all concerned : for though Gardner, LL.D. (Oxford), Professor Arthur Smithells on ground-plan we may claim to know another mind, (Leeds University), Harold C. Dowdall, M.A., B.C.L. its perspective cannot be precisely reproduced. In this (Liverpool University). case of our at once Town Planning Minister, Next, the reader from his high judgment seat will Conference and Exhibition President, the task is easy naturally call for this questionnaire to be recited before and uncontroversial : we have not merely his Bill and him. Here then it follows :- Act, but better still for the present purpose, his excel- I. Nave recent events in your opinion shown an advance in lent opening address of a fortnight ago, still fresh in the direction of the beautifying of our cities. our minds, and soon to be printed in the Congress 2. Has the Town Planning Conference in your opinion volume. With two words then, one of hearty thanks advanced the cause of the beautifying of our cities; and, if so, for his participation in the symposium, and the other of in what direction ? satisfaction over his outspoken and unmistakeable ap- 3. Bo you think the lessons of the Conferenceare such as to proval of the suggestions of our questionnaire, not only justify further steps being taken to enforce them .? the retrospective, but the prospective ones-and notably, 4. If so, what steps in particular ought to be taken ? then, that of the creation of future exhibitions, both {a) Do you agree that the new Act makes sufficiently local and central, to continue that great movement of for artistic reform; should it be amended? municipal and public education which the Congress just (b) Are you in favour of the establishment of permanent closed has so happily initated--we proceed to give the Municipal Exhibitions of Town Plans, etc., etc., affording a replies of others not less eminent in their own spheres. comparative view of past, present, and possible town and After the President, there can be no doubt who next city development,for the purposes of guidance, comparison, deserves to be heard in this matter before all others- adaptation, inspiration, and education? And would you unmistakeably one whom we recognise as the first further agree that such an exhibition ought to be carried citizen of the greatest of the regional capitals of Eng- .further and made the foundation for a Museum or Gallery of land since the industrial age--Mr. T. C. Horsfall, of Civic Art, suggesting how every place within the city’s Manchester, whose long discipleship of Ruskin has limit might be made as beautiful as its character (and the ameliorated his city and region in more ways than we availablemeans) would allow, and thus serving to advance the can here even name, and to whose independent inquiries improvement of city areas, the general beautifying of centres, and travel we owe one of the main factors both of the erection of public buildings in due co-operation with the the Town Planning movement in general as it is, and that public authorities, and in many ways offering a wide field of our present exhibition, in particular his call of 1904 of inspiration and usefulness to artists ? If so, do you think to profit by “ the example of Germany.” a start at a permanent exhibition might be made in local Here, then, is Mr. Horsfall’s reply. We are sorry he museums where a section could be set apart for outlining and so largely differs on one important point from Mr. suggesting this full concept of the city ? Burns and from ourselves : but without difference of that some of the materials as well as the (c) Is it possible opinion we can open no symposium : -- incentive of the present (.B.A. Town Planning R. Exhibi- MR. T. C. HORSFALL,J.P., M.A. tion be made available in this way-that is, made to form the nucleus a permanent exhibition ? I can only say that I believe that it is very desirable of that before very long a permanent exhibition of town (d) Are you in favour of the formation of local art plans shall be formed; but that I also believe that at advisory committees empowered to act with Town Councils present the attention of all interested in town planning in the town planning interests of communities ? Or would should be almost exclusively given to consideration of the you suggest the formation of special Town Planning Com- ways in which they can best induce and help municipal mittees to be drawn from all classes, and thereby especially authorities to use their new powers wisely. Plans ought to constituted to express both the economic, hygienic, and artistic be prepared without delay for those areas on which build- needs of the public ing is sure to be carried on in the near future, and all that ? we can hope to get those authorities to think of at present 5. Have you any criticisms or further suggestions is to take care that the new districts shall be as wholesome, (In some instances special questions were put, and as convenient and as beautiful as possible. The work these are indicated by the answers.) which the new Act, as interpreted in the directions of the Local Government Board, imposes on those authorities Now for the answers. First, of course, for every which wish to make town plans is so heavy and trouble- reason, that from the Minister responsible for the Town some, that it is to be feared that many authorities will be Planning Bill and its administration now as an Act; inclined to let things go on in the old way, and if autho- the President, too of our Town Planning Congress and rities are told that before making any plans they ought to Exhibition-the Rt. Hon. John Burns himself. His carefully study the existing state of the whole of their towns answers are such models of brevity and directness as to and the history of the towns, the inclination towards inaction will probably be strengthened. need little space and still less room for discussion :- I think that for the present the action of the R.I.B.A. in I. Yes. 2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. Yes. advising its allied Societies to form Committees is enough. 2 SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEW AGE Edinburgh seems to have gained much from architects 4b. Exhibits of local interest were as a rule not of per- having the right to be represented on the Authority which manent value. controls the planning of the city, and it seems to me to be 4d. I am in favour of local societies with members repre- desirable that architects shall eventually have a similar senting wide interests being formed to encourage and right in all towns. But the time for that is not yet. watch town planning procedure. That they be empowered Now let us hear the Professors of Architecture and of to act in any way is not possible or practicable. Town Planning respectively : Professor J. W. Simpson, Apart from local and permanent exhibitions there should be an annual exhibition of town planning in London, Professor Banister Fletcher, of London University ; followed in the provinces by a selected number of the Professor Adshead, of Liverpool University ; Prof essor exhibits. F. J. Haverfield, of Oxford; and Dr. Thomas Ashby, of the British School at Rome. PROFESSORF. HAVERFIELD,M.A., F.S.A. I. The Greeks, Romans, and perhaps also the Chinese, PROFESSORJOHN W. SIMPSON,F.R.I.B.A. made considerable advances and reached positions which I am in entire sympathy with Professor Geddes’ pro- were (in many ways, not in all) ahead of the Middle Ages. posals, and my answer is, in essence, “Yes,” to all your But their results could not be imitated now. questions, except perhaps the third-the material in the 4b. Such an exhibition might do good in London-and Exhibition being largely from abroad. Professor Geddes’ perhaps also in a very few of our largest towns. I am not own exhibit is in itself a most valuable and convincing in favour of holding it up as an ‘(up-to-date indispensable,” object-lesson. for every small free library or city museum in every largish PROFESSORBANISTER FLETCHER, F.R.I.B.A. town. If attempted, it should be carried out on a large There can be no doubt that in the past ages the principles and effective scale, and this is possible only in the few of town planning have been carefully studied with regard to large towns with first-rate free libraries, etc., to which I architectural effect.