HOUSES FOR THE PEOPLE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 220, 11 June 1919, Page 4

HOUSES FOR THE PEOPLE

SOME. RECOMMENDATIONS. In the report of ithe'Women's Housing Sub-Committee, recently issued (states the "Queen"), which gives the collected views of women themselves'as"to'housing- requirements, a few essentials arc deemed common to- all localities; and these are briefly summarised as' including: the raising of the house floor well above ground level; the rooms'ori a floor to be reached without intervening steps; sufficient bedroom accommodation for growing boys and girls, and in case of sickness, (or anyone.to be properly cared for; plenty of cupboards indoors and sufficient storage room for', a good quantity of. winter provisions;ments, if outside, to bo under shelter, and, where no drainage system is effected, not more than four houses to be allowed to the acre of land. The Housing (Building Construction) Comrnitteo -goes -even -further and suggesf s-'—sometlußsf ■' additional .'in - .the :way of ]>arn or shed for storing produce, firewood, ..peat, etc. :•.'■'■■: ". • The general opinion appears to bo that more 'ground■•space : must'.be .allowed to each house, or cottage,- in. order that rooms may have mdro sunshine and air than it is possible.to 'givf! -them when a narrow frontage aiid' greater depth is the plan adopted;-.; A separate cntranco to each' bedroom is. (another point' oil which.omphiisis is laiil; no bedrooms to open. out from 'one another, as in old cottages it is quito usual to find they were made to do. While the matter of a parlour is less essential,.-it is generally conceded as.'nn advantage; : but the additions that are asked for in ,all new cottages are, briefly, a good'biithroom, a largo larder,, and some system of heating water in quantity' as -well as a supply of the same., The', bath may 'have to be placed in the scullery,: but, if,so,' : it should be filled from a tap'-nnd there should bo a waste-pipe to empty it,. and a lunged lid.to cover it when hot'-in; use. Tho scullcrv should = bo well lighted and supplied with shelves, also a drying-rack than- can bo lowered or raised by a pulloy.iso .that .damp....clothes are hung well out of tho : -way. ... An ideal village .scjiemo was started, before the war in.a,.part of the counfry".where dairying-was one of .tho principal industries'followed. A number ol cottages were being erected- all. Nt tho same time, and thoy-were built in pairs round an open green. They had flowergardens in front with fruit and vegev able plots at tho back and room for fowl-keening., -Water and electric light, were laid on to each cottage. All had good-sized larders with plenty of 'space for fuel, etc. The material used in iheir constrneHon was hollow concrete blocks, with thatched roofs. Every cottage possessed '.three bedrooms, living-room, parlour,, bathroom,- and.scullery. Tho whole effect was' harmonious and m^. keeping with the 'surrounding"country.- This was an instance of good planning, at the beginning and of true economy in construction. A delightful village hall formed part of the scheme; The Women sHousin« Rub-Committee.says: "We would commend tho ideas enrried out in the plan, ning and building of, this village to those who aro responsible for tho buildine schemes, to bo extended in our country parishes." ■■ - "■- - • ■■-