The Ypsilanti Daily Press

Lansing, June 16--AP--The reorganized state planning commission, heeding reports that Michigan local governments were lagging, sought today to stimulate greater local interest in providing programs for cushioning the shift from war to peace.

The commission Tuesday appointed R. V. Gay, St. Johns architect and chairman of the board of managers of the Michigan Soldiers Home in Grand Rapids, as its director, replacing George R. Ross.

Ross, members said, would be assigned as a consultant to spur planning activity among local governments as soon as a subcommittee of the commission determines methods to deal with city and county officials without incurring resentment at exercise of state direction of local affairs.

Ross reported to the commission that only 17 local governments had official planning agencies and that seven others had unofficial bodies. He said at least 100 such bodies should be in existence. Twenty governments are working on master plans for post-war work and four have already adopted such plans Ross said.

Kenneth R. Black, Lansing, urged the commission to aid local officials in working out public works reserves which are reasonable and not so visionary. He criticized the post-war reserve set up by federal officials as having drawn impractical plans for billions of dollars worth of construction which, he asserted, never would be realized.

"We must dispel the idea that this is a program based on Santa Claus," Black asserted.

Following Governor Kelly's previous suggestion, the commission asked the State Hospital Commission and Sanatorium Commission to prepare within 60 days a report on hospital building needs for presentation to a special session of the legislature next winter.

The commission received assurance from Harry F. Harper, Lansing industrialist, that Michigan manufacturers will cooperate in making available studies of post-war employment trends and manufacturing practices. He also promised help in studying the future of migrating workers who have come to Michigan for munitions jobs.