Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1947 Dear Sir

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 23, 2 May 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1947

Dear Sir

Letters to the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to abridge, amend or withhold any letter or letters. THE HOUSING CRISIS Sir, —Here in Whakatane we find the town gradually being decorated with tents, huts, shacks and caravans as mute and pathetic evidence that we have an unknown number .of people, including returned soldiers and their families, without homes, living in every degree of lack of convenience. Babies and young children are being brought up under these conditions with, in some cases, no expectation of adequate artificial warmth during the winter months. There are also those living in the comparative luxury of shared homes with . the most unsatisfactory arrangement of shared conveniences, shared this and that, and shared children too! At best, many have nothing to look forward to but a possibility of one of those 200 State houses expected to materialise at some time in the dim distant future. But what of the present? When we turn to Ohope we find a number of aparently vacant dwellings, and these are by no means all small bachs. Enquiry brings forth statements that this house will not be let for more than a fortnight (thus holding it for those who already have a house to live in), this one will not be let except for a short (holiday) period, this one is not available for letting at all, etc. Prohibitive rentals are also mentioned. It does seem a strange state of affairs that houses should be lying idle at a time like this. Is it possible for those in authority to look into the matter of these vacant Ohope dwellings? The question of rentals should also be tackled as some Ohope rentals are astounding, often irrespective of the size or the nature of the dwelling, or building let as dwelling. In fact, a thorough survey of Ohope dwellings would be illuminating to the authorities and to the public. Considering the possible increase of winter ailments that can so easily accompany makeshift living conditions, this housing problem seems a matter to concern our Hospital Board in particular. But’ something more practical than sympathy is needed for these homeless ones. This is not a matter to think about, and to talk about, and then to forget about. Yours etc., ACTION.

EAST COAST RAILWAY

Sir, —There has been a lot of talk about the East Coast Railway connection, and recent agitation has fetched the subject before the public once more. In 1910 there was a flying survey of the Opotiki-Mata-wai route, by way of the Otara and Te .Whaiti streams. Mr Peter Barlow was the surveyor. And the general survey was completed in 1912 by the Chief Surveyor, Mr Lochie Campbell. There had been several trial routes previously; but Mr Campbell found that compared with other routes, it, the Te Whaiti route would be far and away the most economic in mileage, grade, and costs. The distance between Opotiki

and the Matawai connection would be about 27 miles, the final trigonometrical point for the Opotiki end was a shot to the top of a monument in the cemetery “where it rests in peace.” The Whakatane end of the line has been surveyed many times since then, in fact every time there has been an election. While suggesting that the 1912 survey draft should be dug up for action, I think that, that faulty and broken country around the Waimana Gorge can be easily avoided. My friend the ehainman was optimistic, he offered me a level fiver that the line would be through in five years. Thirty-four years! and still we are listening to our politicians lisping their promises. Yours etc., W. BRADSHAW.