"LOOKING FORWARD"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 249, 15 July 1919, Page 6

"LOOKING FORWARD"

Sir,—The problem of getting houses in thfe vicinity of the city has been engaging the attention of would-be tenants for some time past. We have been playing'dog in the manger. Why? Because we have had the-land ready to build on all the time, and yet because we will not use common sense, no eft'ort has been taken to remedy the evil, and build houses that would make homes for the forking classes, thereby enabling them to enjoy tlio privilege of having a home of their own, with a garden attached. That would do more to uplift the struggling community than anything else. Get lid of the slums in the city; give the poorer classes better surroundings, and the future generations will benefit, enabling them to be better citizens and patriots. How is this to be done? i Let the city corporation have the Town Reserve surveyed, laid out in building sections, roads formed, recreation plots reserved and formed, etc. Architects to draw a series of plans for houses of different sizes; applications to be received only from those, who are not able to buy homes, and who belong to' the working classes. The tity corporation to get a Bill passed enabling them to build houses and lease them at long periods, so that those occupying them would benefit by keeping the houses and ground in order. If the City Council would only wake up and realise that they have a duty to perform for thoso who cannot help themselves tliey would bo enabled to make a far happier community.

At the present time it is nearly impossible to know "who's who," whether nnyono is idle or industrious, etc. This could be remedied by forming a corps of "home guardians," each one to have a certain number of houses under its oharge, to report to headquarters: the characters of the people occupying each house; to see that each house was in proper order; advise when required, so that who want work would be put on the right road to obtain work. In fact, to see that all would be enabled to earn a living wage; to let peoplo know that the community have their interests at heart, so that none should want food and not be able to get it. We must advance and reform our ideas to meet these' progressive times, or a collapse will come. Many will say, What, take away the Town Belt—our breathing space for the city ? Monstrous! Preserve it at all costs! What nonsense. Are we not on the edge of the great Pacific Ocean, the wide, open sea for thousand of miles. That is our reserve, which cannot be blocked. Then let us take advantage of what've have got, and build happy homes, and benefit the present and future generations. "Remember Miramar." When Sir Francis Bell was Mayor he advocated the purchase of Crawford's peninsula. What a loss to the city through the want of support in not being able to buy.—l fim, etc., SYDNEY STIDOLPH. Wellington, July 12, 1919.