ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM IS ONE FOR GOVERNMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 58, 28 February 1949, Page 5

ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM IS ONE FOR GOVERNMENT

j Businessmen Move 0 To Prepare Case Thursday night’s general i meeting of the Whakatane j -Chamber of Commerce turned : over to the executive for action ■, .a suggestion that a full case on ' Whakatane’s desperate housing ; and accommodation shortage be ] prepared for presentation to the i -Government through Mr W. Sullivan, M.P. Several speakers stressed the need for drastic action, and some expressed the opinion, which was generally accepted by the meeting, that the problem had assumed the proportions of a national rather than a local matter. Introducing the subject, Mr I. B. Hubbard, headmaster of the District High School, made particular reference to the difficulty of getting teachers to come here, and outlined his view of the situation. There were no boarding houses that took long-term guests, the hotels were unable to do so, and because of building difficulties, all the houses were small. Moreover, this, being a “mushroom” town, had a young population and a big proportion of the married women worked at a much better profit than they could get irom keeping boarders. ' \ It had been suggested that a hostel be established, but, in other places where that had been done* by Boards, teachers had not always wanted to stay at them. Further,* it had been argued that it was not good for teachers to be together all their spare time. He knew many people had been very considerate indeed to the school, sometimes at considerable inconvenience to themselves and he expressed- deep appreciation of that belp, but sought suggestions, that would further ease a desperate situation. Deplorable Conditions Mr S. W. Hills, postmaster, described deplorable conditions under which some married Post Office workers were compelled to live. Mr B. L. Butler pointed out that, although there was a dearth of boarding houses here, it seemed it would probably be uneconomic at the moment to build any, and there were no buildings here suitable for •conversion. Mr Hills suggested the Chamber should urge the Borough Council to make some endeavour as soon as possible to help provide accommodation, if only temporary accommodation. Transit Housing? Mr N. Patterson recalled that the Borough Council had once turned ■down a transit housing scheme when it had been suggested. He knew of other cases where‘the situation had been considerably alleviated by the ■earnest co-operation of the 'local authorities concerned. It might be suggested to the Borough Council that it might help young people to build, by way of loans, for instance. He commended the Beacon for its outspoken stand on this vital problem and expressed the hope that :it would carry on the work. “We are supposed to be a progressive community, but we seem to have neglected something absolutely necessary to our future advancement.” he concluded. Mr S. Whitworth said the Council would probably point out that the . cost had been the problem and would probably say the price of transit housing was prohibitive. Then—And Now! “As soon as a war broke out camps sprang up all over the place. Materials were available then. If it could be done then, why not now?” !Mr Bert Cutler wanted to know. “Money was no object so long as the boys got trained to go overseas and get butchered. "What are we doing for them now they’re back with us? This town is riddled with red tape and regulations. We should go beyond the Borough. These people should have homes regardless of expense.”