THE HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 155, 26 March 1919, Page 4

THE HOUSING PROBLEM

A FIELD FOR WOMEN'S ENERGIES,

The housing-question, always one of much importance in a city like' Wellington that' lias wrestled with hills and tho son. lor space;'has-been .brought to the fore of late through the condition of affairs brought to. light during, the recent epidemic. Town-planning, which includes housing, has received an impetus, at least if talk is. to be taken as an -indication of deeds to tome, and women are beginning to think it is time that they had something to say as to the way in which they and their-.families are to be housed, the more so since'statistics have proved how bad housing conditons and lack'of fiesh air react upon people, especially upon children. Although' it is woman who spends'tlie greater/part of her linio in the house, yet her opinion as to what is wanted in it for her convenience has seldom been asked, and almost, as seldom has she. volunteered it, since any devia--tiun from the generally, accepted standard lias usually meant a greater expenditure of money. ;In England, where efforts', aro being made to cope with this acute question, of bousing, it has been proposed to set up local, housing committees in tho villages,. towns, and cities, with women serving upon them who will study the scheme submitted for'housing before if is submitted to the Local Goveniment'lloard for approval. ' Women appreciate more than anyone else the necessity of'open • spaces and recreation grounds,"and these, are-being made a'featitre'of in some of tho schemes that have'-been discussed. ■ l,\ Hie course of. an article ■ in' tho "Queen," Ladv Emmott (who visited New Zealand- with' the' British' Parliamentary Party a'few years',ago) -mentions the points emphasised by'various associations of working women in regard to what they regard as necessary in their houses.;— (1) The'v ask for living-room, scullery, and parlour—the first to'bo used for what its name, implies,' a' room in which .to have meals'.'to bo a nursery for the children and-, the place to rest, in when, the day's work is done;.the scullery to be the wo'rlishop of the house, where most of the. cnoking.-washing, and other-work is.done. For this reason' there is.a- growing feeling thai- tho range rhpnld lie in tho scullery, heating.water, etc.. and an open grate in the living-room. The third room is.neoilod for other children whp have' lessons to do, for the man' wmvmny.be secretary of a society and requiring a quiet room in which to interview ihelubers or- (In other work,'and, equally 'important,-to serve as a meeting place for'young people -and their friends, and thus'minimise, the dangers of the'street being the only a'vail-n-blo meeting ground. In cases of siek.ness.the parlour may usefully be turned into an extra .'bedroom;' (3) Three bedrooms, two of which should be large'enough' to lake two single beds; if possible'standing out into/ the room to help iii cleaning and for sanitary 'reasons. • ' . (,"ij A bath, whether,up.or down, in a separate room, and with hot' and cold water laid on. ," (4) Reasonable number of cupboards ah-.l fittings and windows,- which are arranged so as to clean" easily'and-give plenty.-of light throughout the house. '• Modest'etiongh', ; one would flunk!'' Continuing,. Lady Emino.H writes that in ono pair of cottages "I. saw that steel, which "is plentiful, was used throughout in place of tiniber for doors, staircases, wirdow frames, etc., and aflat roof was introduced, and this materially .reduced the cost. Concrete in various .forms, of blocks is being extensively used' for:the walls and also for flooring. It can be treated airl made pleasant to'the tread by having a : liquid preparation : noured -upon it. which, when: set-, has the-, appearance .0 liroleum, and can be easily, cleaned'and polished. But the.-housewife's .greatest need is a. good supply of. hot and cold water without-'-too great -cost of ..firing. In the'new'scheme it is-most •important to try experiments in heating water,and possibly providing.radiators in a.group of houses' from 'one' oentrnl-, furnace.-; .1 Ins would effect a savin? in. fuel, and 111 return the tenant could- pay a slightly increased rental per week." ' ' . ~ In the future it is hoped, and tboiwlit probable that there will be considerable clcveloDment in communal life. Creches and playgrounds, the writer considered, could with great- advnntage be arranged ii, connection.with new groups-of-houses. In conclusion. Lady Einmott stressed 10 need of oducatM women, to. .study, lie cineslion of housing and lo work m tie mutter with those who'are'to occupy the houses.

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