Wellington Surveys Its Housing Situation

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1949, Page 5

Wellington Surveys Its Housing Situation

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGT(LN, April 11. The latest survey of the Wellington housing situation diselosed no iinprovement on the position in 1937, said ttu city engineer, Mn K* E. Luke, today. In 1937 there were 2201 buildings in „the city containing substandard dweliing units. There were 544G families totalling 13,579 persons, then living in units below the standard set for aeeommodation and conveniences. Many were one-perso-n families and many units ( were single-persons. The latest survey showed that this had not improved and wouid remain the 1 most serious aspeet of the problem until Buiiieient dwelling units were erected to meet the shortage. The misuse of large houses could be reetified by their reverting to single-family dwellings by conversiori into flats according to bylaw or council requirements, or by aiteration to meet requirements for a boardinghouse and being used aceordingly. A dwelling was not eonsidereo a boardinghouse unless it had four boarders or lodgers. The large majority of people living in the class oi dwelling mentioned, were tenants anu not boarders and therefore could not be deprived of any fittings or faeilities they enjoyed. In many cases where a keeper had desired tenants to become boarders in order that unauthorised iittings might be removed to compiy with the bv-law, the tenant had gcne to tlie Eabour Department and been advmeu to take rio notice of the requests. it was this protection aft'orded by the Tenancy Act which was preventing, owners and keepers of numerous houses ( from bringing them into conformity with the by-law or was uffording them the excuse not to do so. There was aiso difficulty in securing heip to run a boardinghouse. In many cases so-called boardinghouses were conducted bv elderiy wroinen incapabie of giving the necessary "service. Aonetheless they expected and usually received a return out of lceeping with tne service rendered. In other cases the person in controi did not r-eside on the premises and gave no service/ Conditions in such premises varied considerably. There were many where little fault could be found with controi while in others conditions Were deplorable.