THE HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 71, 18 December 1918, Page 6

THE HOUSING PROBLEM

Sir,—During tbe recent epidemic the serious state of overcrowding in many of the small ■ cottages nt Lyall Bay wns brought to the notice of the Vigilance Committee, and at meetings held on November'2B and December 7 and Hit was resolved that the attention of the Mayor be called to the position in this newest suburban area of Wellington. . Letters have been written and particulars given to His Worship of many cases of overcrowding and of cottages having been erected at the Bay in contravention of the city by-laws, yet so far thb committee has not been favoured with a reply.

The disclosures made by the committees in the central city districts demand immediate attention, but the authorities of our ch\v perhaps feel that tliey are not altogether responsible for the errors of those who built the city thirty or forty years ago.' At Lyall Bay, however, -.the buildings complained of were all erected in recent years, and by-laws were in force , calculated to ensure healthy and sanitary dwellings, but the cottages complained of arer-excejit for their newness—no better than those in the'centre of the city described as unfit ■for habitation.

The report of Mr. J. M. Bertram,, a member of our committee, who made on inspection of the district, is as. follows:— "There are some 150 small dwellings in the Bay, most of which can hardly be called cottages, or some even whares, but are better defined by. tlfe American name 'shack,' ranging from one to three rooms, that are anything but a credit to Wellington's most popular seaside suburb. The following 'particulars- give some idea of the conditions prei ailing:—

Pour rooms, throe of which are occupied by n family of nine, their living room being Bft.. x 12ft., bedrooms 6ft. x. Sff. Gin, and sft. 9in x

Bft. 6in., six sleeping in one and ■ three in the other. Kent, 255. per week. The other room, 7ft. x 12ft., is occupied liy two, as living and bedroom. Rent. 15s. Total rent, .£2 per week. This building, 21ft. x 12ft., into which eleven people are crowded, is returning .£lO4 per annum, and would he built at prewar prices,, drainage included, for iIOO, the section, say, .£200; total, ,£3OO, over 30 per cent, profit. Three rooms, bedrooms sft. 9in. x Sft. and 9ft. Gin. x 10ft, 6in., this one also used ns a sitting-room. Kitchen, sft. x Bft., with no window. Five persons living here. Bent, ?ss. per week. Three rooms, two bedrooms, 6ft, x Gft. Gin., and living room 10ft. x. 12ft. Kent, 30s. per week. Washhouse locked; owner says tenant con have key if another 10s. 6d. per week is. paid. In front nnd boloiv is a concrete vault, half-submerged in sand, which was lei; for 20s. per week. The section is unfenced, and a shifting quantity. Two 'shacks,' about 7ft. x 12ft. and lflft. x 30ft., with four separate fnmi- ,_ lies living! in them; four or five rooms at most. Two-roomed dwelling on a section ' 20ft. x 40ft.; no air space. Two two rooms each, now joined by' building a room between, but still let separately; section 40ft. x SOft. , Most of the places inspected have windows 20in. x 40m., somo only 18in. x iJOin.. in many cases no washhouse, and the rubbish 'cart has not been to some for six months. "The buildings inspected have been erected from about two lo six years. It is a disgrace to the city that this state of nftaira obtnins, anil I can only come to onei of two conclusions—that the bylaws relating to building are faulty, or the officials responsible for granting permits have been grossly careless. A sheepfarmer would not be allowed to erect such places as ' Many _ of the 'shacks' hero to accommodate his shearer* for only one or two weeks in every If the powers possessed by the Cit.Vj Council are insufficient to ensure reasonable breathing space for eflch occupant of a house, legislation should be at once promoted to give the council the necessary authority. The Public Health Amendment Act just passed, whilst giving some relief, does not go nearly far , enough, and it is to bo regretted that

the power proposed to l)c given local authorities to build worlwrs , dwellings was deleted from the Act.-J am. etc., ALEX. A. GELLATLY. Lyull Bay, December IC, 1818.