TRANSIT HOUSE SCHEME TURNED DOWN IN 1944

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 87, 16 May 1949, Page 5

TRANSIT HOUSE SCHEME TURNED DOWN IN 1944

The shortage of housing in Whakatane is still a serious problem and apart from the few State houses that are constructed each year, nothing is being done to relieve the present state of affairs for those who cannot afford private building. Delapidated shacks, leaking and draughty caravans have been brought in to serve as dwellings until better accommodation can be obtained.

Any doubts regarding the seriousness of the position at Whakatane will be quickly dispelled after a glance round the borough. There are many “temporary” dwellings. The state of some bears this out because it is not likely that they will last much longer.

Not At Whakatane In many towns the responsibility of housing it’s citizens has been shouldered partly by the local borough or city councils. Not so at Whakatane. In some places transit housing has been provided. Not at Whakatane.

The shortage of housing troubled the Whakatane Borough Council as far back as 1943. In 1944 it was worse, and in June of that year the *use of army huts as a temporary relief was suggested but turned down as not being suitable. At that time transit housing was a comparatively new scheme, but a report in the Bay of Plenty Beacon of June 16, 1944, of a Borough Council meeting shows why army huts were not favoured. The suggestion was introduced by Cr S. S. Shapley, who wanted the huts placed on vacant sections. The following is the report of the discussion:—-

No One Knew? No one knew the housing shortage better than he did, declared Cr .A. J. Canning, who added that there were literally hundreds looking for accommodation. The same position obtained throughout New Zealand. He did not, however, favour bringing in huts, even as a temporary measure. Decent homes should be put up or none at all.

Cr Shapley: That’s all very well, but what’s going to happen in the meantime?

The Mayor (Mr B. S. Barry): My experience has been that there’s nothing more permanent than a temporary dwelling. Cr Canning said he could remember the time when people lived here in tents. A few years later there had been a glut of empty houses. The same thing could happen again. Huts Not Favoured Cr W. Sullivan said he agreed wholeheartedly with Cr Shapley, but the position could be met if the Housing Department would take immediate measures to construct houses .... He understood in any case that the Government was averse to permitting any of the army huts to be used as houses.

Cr Shapley • then moved that the Housing Department be contacted and urged to hasten the construction of new houses which were desperately needed in Whakatane. Result of the motion can be seen in the number of new houses that have been constructed at Whakatane since 1944.

However, the housing problem at Whakatane has not improved very much since then and at the present time does not show signs of any immediate alleviation.