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The second meeting was held on the 28th April, 1913, and 49 applications for
the new post were considered, and out of the three selected, Mr. James
Hembrow, of Chelmsford, was selected by the Council on the 13th May, and
began his duties on 16th June, 1913.
TOWN PLANNING CONFERENCE.
This Conference, convened by the National Housing and Town Planning
Council, was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel on May 27th
and 28th to consider practical town planning. It was attended by representatives
of the London County Council and the suburban authorities within
15 miles radius of Charing Cross. The subjects discussed were (1) arterial
roads and (2) open spaces; the general feeling of the meeting was that in
matters of this kind, co-operation between the London County Council and the
suburban authorities was absolutely necessary, and that they had every reason
to look for financial and legislative support from the Government of the day,
whatever its politics.
The following important resolution was passed, viz.:—
"That this Conference begs to represent to the Prime Minister
and the President of the Local Government Board, that the
Public Departments, which can by means of their powers
co-operate and assist in the framing of town planning schemes
and the provision of arterial roads, be asked to confer with the
local authorities in Greater London collectively and give their
assistance in every way possible in preparing town planning
schemes for that area, and that the Prime Minister and the
President of the Local Government Board be asked to receive a
deputation from this Conference to urge more explicitly the
necessity for such consultation."
Following this Conference, on the 3rd July a deputation from the National
Housing and Town Planning Council (including our Engineer and Councillor
Cadman) interviewed the Prime Minister and Mr. John Burns, the President
of the Local Government Board, with a view of securing co-operation and
assistance (financial) in the making of schemes and provision of roads. On the
reception of the deputation, four speakers selected from the north, south, east
and west of Greater London gave their views, our Engineer speaking for
North London. The Prime Minister in reply suggested that Local authorities
should confer with the Local Government Board, and agree to take Mr. Burns
as their mediator in regard to the matter, and they would try to arrange a plan
for co-operation. Our Engineer pointed out that whilst the Traffic branch of
the Board of Trade were anxious that main arterial roads 100 feet wide should
be a feature of any town plan of Greater London these authorities were not