HOMES FOR WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 6

HOMES FOR WORKERS

DEPUTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY TENANTS' ASSOCIATION A deputation representing the Tenants' Association waited on tho City Council last evening with regard to the question of tho erection of workers' homes by the municipality. The first speaker was Mr. G. M'Konzie (chairman of the association), who stated that it must bo apparent to everybody, as it was to workers, that tho increased cost of living and-the increase in rents were making it very difficult, for working people to live in AVellington. According to tho Government Statistician, living had increased in Wellington by 22 per cent., whilst tho workers were only getting an increase in the way of a' war bonus of 10 per cent., and they were not all getting that. Not only did tenants have to meet that demand, but increases had been mado in rents of from Is. to •7s. Cd. par week for cottage homes of from four to six rooms. The councillors must understand that under the circumstances the position was very serious indeed. They had put the matter before Mr. Massey, and had asked him to bring down a Fair Bent Bill, on the lines of the one in force in the Old Country, and they had his (Mr. Massey's) assuranco that the matter would be dealt with. The real trouble was the shortage of houses, and landlords had taken advantage. of their position to ask for increases in rent when people could not afford to pay them. They had come to the City Council to ask if that body could do something to help them, even if it wero only to provide housing accommodation for a section of its own employees. If tho council could erect 100 or 200 houses, it would relieve tne pressure in the city. Tho city had some of the big mercantile firms as tenants, and Mr. Morison had stated that they should pay 5 per cent, on a valuation that was admittedly low, yet they had- got 'them for from 50 to 70 per cent, below that figure. If thoy were satisfied with rentals from wealthy mercantile- firms that only meaait from 2i to 3J per cent, on low valuation, it iM surely a fair proposition to consider the working people of this city, provided there was a reasonable return on tho money invested. The t>pcakor said he knew that they had the sympathy of tho Mayor, who was at least in favour of housing tho corporation's employees. The difficulty would be a financial one. Ho reminded the council that tho chair' man of tho Greater Wellington Town Planning Association had said that in future no rates should be imposed other than those necessary for tho administration and maintenance, of the city. Ho (Mr. Aitken) desired that for the present only absolutely necessary expenses should bo met, but the speaker admitted that if that were done, the resources of tho council would be curtailed, and there would be no improving of the city. Mr. H. E. Holland said that at pre sent it was almost impossible to get a house in Wellington, apart from rent or any other consideration. Whilo tho rents wore not raised with one tenant, as soon as n house was vacated, the rent was raised to the incoming tenant. As tho result of those conditions, it was common to hear of two and three families in ono house. This led 10-a stage where home life became impossible—the places became boardiug'houses nnd not homes. There was quite a lot of land in Wellington if the council would undertake to build suitable residences. If they did.. tho council could make them cheap by installrxg electricity for electric light, cooking, heating, etc. At present there wero many houses in AVellington most inadequately provided, especially working men's homes, and when they were not able to pay. certain charges at tho end of- the month, they wero charged from 50 to GO per cent. on.their accounts. That could not happen where there was municipal control. One way in which thn council could begin would be to provide a decent class of houses for their employees. Councillor Hutcheson asked if they had considered the alternative of tenement houses or suitable flats. Mr. M'Konzie said he knew tho tenement houso well, but did not think it would commend itself to the people oi Wclb'ngton, any more than did the housing of two or three families in the one house. Tho system favoured in Neiv Zealand was to houso each family in ono home. He did not think land was 'so extremely, scarce in Wellington as Councillor Hutcheson thought. Anyone looking down from the Town Belt could sea that for every section built upon there wero eight lying idle. Mr. Holland said that the tenement system at once prevented anyone having a garden, and if there was ono- thing more than another that; made life worth living, it was having' flowers about the house. Ho noticed the absence in Wellington of the terrace system which was 60 lommon in Sydney. In, New Zealand we had the detached house, which gave a fair amount of air space. The council might get to work and tear down Tory Street, the same as they did in Sydney, whoro Vi'oxford Street was swept away, ond in its place was uiadß one of tho finest streets in Sydney. At Miller's Point, bo, the council erected houses for the men engaged in that locality, but neither the tenement or the terrace system compared with the detached houso system. Councillor W. H. Bennett asked what percentage would they think fair to meet the exponses of upkeep, rates, insurance, and loss of Tent.' The corporation woiked on an overdraft—would they consider tho interest' paid on tho overdraft a fair rate? Mr. M'Konzie said they had r.ot been so closely into the matter as that, but if tho council were content with fiom 'ih to 3J per cent, from tho big n;ercanlilo firms Councillors: We're not content—it's tho Court that makes the award. Mr. M'Kenzie, continuing, said that they should bo considered on tho basis of the same amount of interest. Councillor Hutcheson: But wo deny it. You're suffering from a delusion. Mr. M'Kenzie said that a rato cf interest from 'tj to 5 per cent., with something for depreciation, should satisfy Iho council and the people. Councillor Luckie said tho proposition was seriously affected by the high cost of labour and material. Ho agreed that the City was frightfully short of accommodation. Mr. Holland said he did not understand the increase in the cost of material. The increase in the cost of labour was a trifle. At the outside it was 10 per cent., but even that had not been conceded in many cases. Land ought not to increase in valuo. He know that the improved value of land in AVellington was going up every year, but there was no sane reason why it should. "If something is not done," said Mr. Holland, "you will find us camping in tho parks, and then you will prosecute us. (Laughter.) Then the council can build so much cheaper than the private man can do. I've studied the question for many years, and know it to be so. And why should it not bo so? The council has the best brains in the community t't direct the work." (Laughter.).

Mr. M'Kenzie said that at present tho Government was building a lot r.f houses at Tnitville that we're to bo better and cheaper than could bo ootainc.l elsewhere in Wellington.

■ The Mayor said ho believed the council would rise to the occasion and do its best with regard to this question. The chief drawback at present was the denrness of money, and the AVellington rate of interest must reflect on the rent. Anyhow, the council would go into thf question earnestly, nnd seo what could be done. The matter Of homes for City Council employees was a sound proposition. The people of the community who were building at present wore mostly erecting homes for themselves, and not bnuses to let. Fe had that from tho City Engineer, no recognised the abuse of overcrowding, and intimated that it must be put a stop to.