HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2834, 27 July 1916, Page 6

HOUSING PROBLEM

A FRESH SCHEME

HARBOUR BOARD WANTS POWER TO BUILD TO RELIEVE SLUMS . At last evening's meeting of the Wellmgton Harbour Board, Mr. J. G. Cobbe moved: "That the Government be'asked to introduce legislation amending the Harbours Acts, with a view to givuig - the AVellington Harbour Board power to acquire laud on which to. estab- ' lisli homes for the board's workers. And that the board appoint a deputation to wait on the Prime Minister in support of this proposal." Mr. Cobbe said that the scheme was intended primarily' lor the casual workers of the board, but he would not object to its extension to the permanent men. The casual men's employment was uncertain, and intermittent, and bundreds of them came down early every morning not knowing if they were going to get work; or when they were going to get it. Those wero harassing circumstances, and must have a bad effect on the temper and character of the men, and did not make for efficiency. Moreover, rents in Wellington were abnormally high, and the men were practically compelled to live in slums. He proposed that the board should limit tho i-uiuber of its casual workers. Messrs. C. Wr Jones and H. L. Nathan: How are you going to work the ships? Air. Cobbe: And we should make comfortable homes for tho married mer: Mr. Nathan: Do you'know what they arc earning now? Mr. Cobbe: You'll get a chance liter. Mr. Cobbo went on to say that lai d could bo procured not more than ten or twelve miles from the City a-t (say) J. 150 an acre. Four and five-roomed houses could be erected on half-acre lot 3, at X 425 for four rooms and for five rooms. Tho money could be got at \\ per cent., and 12s. fid. per week rent for four rooms would return 6i per cent., end 14s. for five rooms slightly more. Through the courtesy of ono of the board's officers ho had obtained a list of the rentals being" paid by foriy-ono of tho board's casual employees. Tho average rental of four rooms in the City, he found, was 17s. 9d., and in tho suburbs Ms.; five rooms in'the City 19s. fid., and in the suburbs 17s. To save waste of time, the men Who were needed for the next day could, on the previous evening, be telephoned at a central place in the settlement. Tho scheme would be a good thing for the men, the board, and the country. The ok; order of things was passiug away, and when 'tho men .who had fought in tho trenches beside the best blood of the Old Country camo back, they would not consent to live in slums agaiu. Mr. fl % Fletcher, M.P., seconded tho motion, and asked Mr. Cobbe to make tho power applicable to alt 'harbour boards. He would be pleased to support the scheme in the Hous,e. Mr. Cobbe consented to make the alteration suggested by Mr. Fletcher. Mr. M. Cuhen supported the.motion, and complimented Mr. Cobbe.

Mr. W. T. Hildreth thought tho scheme an excellent one: Ho was of opinion, however, that the casual vorkcrs might not take full advantage of it, but the permanent men would. He thought Mr. Cobbe had sot tho rentals too low, and had under-estimated tho cost of constructing tho dwellings. Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P., said that as an academic discussion, this afforded a half-hour's debate, and inspired a good deal of virtuous feeling, but would tho board actually do anything? The only way he could see of getting this thing done would bo to change the personnel of the board, and bring in a lot of . Labour men. • Many bodies in New Zealand had the power to start such a scheme, but not ono of them had taken advantage of tho power. \ However, if the board was serious he would bo delighted. Mr. Harkness: They are not serious, Hindmarsh. Mr. W. Cable said tho present .was an inopportune tinio for such a move, and it was not a function of tho board to do this. . Mr. J. W. M'Ewan considered that.tho scheme was well thought out. 'Mr. Cable was wrong; this was merely to acquiro a. power }ust now, and there was no reason why, oven'though tho war continued, plans for tho future should not bo made. Mr. Cohen: To benefit.the board. ' 1 Mr. -il'Ewau added that at Te Ato there were 280 people living on every, aero of land. Air. J. G. Harkness though littlo good could come of the disoussion now; there was no chanco of jetting a Bill through now. As Mr. Hindmarsh had said, this was an acadomie discussion. Anyhow many of tho men would not go out of town; that would be too far from tho pictures. He. would like to know where level land ten miles from Wellington could bo had for £150 an acre. Tho chairman of the board (Mr.- C. 15. Danielle said that Mr. Cobbe should be pleased with the reception of his motion. He congratulated, him. Mr. Daniell stated that the regular employees numbered 300, and for ten weeks the casuals averaged • 310 daily. On. ,one> day there were 449 casual men employed, and then they were sixty men short. A member: That is a winter time average? Mr. Daniell:'Yes. ~ Mr. Cobbe said it was not fair to sav that men lived in town* to, be near the pictures; they did not live 'in slums for that. He had a letter stating that the employees paid one-third of their wages in rent. The motion was' carried by eight votes to five. The following is the division list:For: Cobbe, Cohen, Daniell, Fletcher, Hildreth, Hindmarsh, M'Ewan, M'Farlane. Against: Cable, Harkness, Jones, Nathan, Sinclair. Messrs). Daniell, M'Ewan, Hildreth, and Cobbe Were appointed a committee to' conyey the resolution to the Prime Minister. -