CHEAP HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2818, 8 July 1916, Page 11

CHEAP HOUSES

NEED - FOR STANDARDISATION. A. plea for standardised houses was rahße In the House of Representatives last _evening, when the Estimates were undei' disoussion, by Dr. A. K. Newman. He commented"oirtlie fact that tho art of house building was very slightly developed in tho Dominion because everybody wanted a different type of house with peculiar features, and the result was that tho cost of liouse-building in New Zealand was .enormous. The Government should institute a system of building standai-d'liouses, and so cheapen the cost. What the people wanted chiefly was room, and they would bo able to get this if. tho houses were standardised. Standardisation was the ono notablo feature of modern life. The principle was adopted in regard to motor-cars and submarines (amongst other things) with conspicuous success. English landlords, finding it necessaiy to house their people better,, had paid great attention to tho art of building, and the result was that an enormous change had been effected in England la the typo of house and tho cost of erection. - The cottages and houses were now of a, very much better type, and the people got more floor space and comforts. Edison had been investigating the standardisation of houses, and by means of concrete walls, etc., and standard doors and windows, was 'materially reducing the price of building, and improving the people's comfort. Ho contended that the Primo Minister, when happior times came, should look into this matter of standardisation, especially in relation to tho croction of workers' 'homes, .for , lie was satisfied Hint'tho ro'st" o" labourers' cottages could, bo . reduced by 25 per cent. Private contractors could perhaps not make this thing pay, but it couid be made to pay by tho State, and tho Primo Minister should take tho matter in hand. ■ Mr. C. A. Wilkinson also indicated that in his opinion tho Government, might take somo action. In Wellington there were some of the greatest slum-, areas to bo found in any part ,of tho. world. , Something could bo done in. '-the way "of improvement when erecting now buildings by putting.up houses on a wholesale scalo fairly close. together. People coming to Wellington oonld r.ot. even geti a suito of rooms even at a high rental; .This was a very big.question. and one which the Governmentcould take in hand. It would-be apopular .thing, and the Government would not lose any mouoy.