MUST BE MET

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 73, 18 May 1945, Page 5

MUST BE MET

PROBLEMS OF HOUSING

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ACTION

So acute has the housing prob>lem become in Whakatane and so obvious have grown the penalties which are being inflicted upon the men returning from overseas as a result that the Borough Council has> at last decided to waive its by-laws with regard to standardised homes being built within the confines of the Borough and to permit of the erection in certain cases of temporary accommodation at the pleasure of the Council and subject to certain provisos.

The matter was introduced when two applications came before the Council for the erection of temporary sheds approximating Bxß and 8 x 10 respectively. In both cases it was shown that the applicants intended to build at the earliest opportunity and had made application for the necessary license. Under the existing circumstances it was impossible to say how long they would have to wait and as a result there was no alternative accommodation available. One a returned soldier recenctly married was. at present living in a

caravan. "It is time we did something to

assist these men," said Cr Shapley. "As far as humanly possible I am -ki. favour of doing our best. This position obtains all over the Dominion, and it would be a calamity if we allowed the.se men who have been fighting for us to come back here and go homeless." He moved that the Council grant the two applications providing the sanatory passed the Health Inspector that the applicants had already taken steps to build a standardised house, and that they would not re-let the temporary accommodation when their permanent homes were built.

The Mayor agreed that the position was now desperate. He queried the right of the Council, however, to break one of its. own by-laws. At the same time lie admitted that by-laws or no by-laws the position had to be met.

Cr Spring warned that the door would be opened for numerous other applications' along the same lines, and that unless it was stipulated that applicants already had an application in for a building permit, the Council was leaving itself wide open. Cr Canning agreed that the Council had to assist. The stories he heard almost daily were pitiful. The Mayor: As much as we dislike doing it I think we have no alternative but to accede to the applications providing the people concerned are making an honest endeavour to build permanently. On hhs suggestion it was decided to add to the motion that in future applications should be referred to the nearest committee of Council meeting for decision. The motion was then carried without dissent.