CO129-614-2 Visit of Sir Patrick Abercrombie to advise on town planning 28-11-1946 - 5-12-1947 — Page 146

53247/46

C.D.W.A.C. No. 819

146 2

1.

NORTH BORNEO

Appointment of Town Planner

Application for a grant of £4,700

The towns and smaller centres in North Borneo have been

devastated by enemy action and our own bombardments to a greater

extent than anywhere else in the Empire.

An estimate of the

percentage of destruction in the main towns is as follows :-

Sandakan

95%

Jesselton

75%

Kudat

95%

Beaufort

60%

100%

12,

Labuan(Victoria)

After a tour of North Borneo, the Governor General reported "...With the almost complete destruction that has occurred, we have an opportunity which must not be missed to

reconstruct the urban centres of North Borneo on model lines. My proposal is to engage an expert town planner of high reputation "to come to Borneo for a period of at least two years".

3.

The Acting Governor has been consulted and would welcome the early appointment of a well qualified town planner with, f possible, architectural qualifications in addition.

4.

Application is accordingly made for a free grant of 24,700 to meet a town planner's salary for two years, return passages and consequential expenditure. Details are shown in the financial summary attached. It is possible that the work may take longer than two years, in which case a further applied will be submitted. A salary of 1,500 for annum is proposed, in order that well qualified candidates may be attracted for this difficult end

important task.

Colonial office.

31st December, 1946.