HOUSING CONDITIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 257, 25 July 1919, Page 3

HOUSING CONDITIONS

0 "SCANDALOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS" REPORT OF CHARITABLE AID COMMITTEE A rigorous discussion on (he mailer of housing accommodation in Wellington took place nt yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Beard, following upon a report received frnr.t tlio Charitable Aid Committee. The committee reported as follows:— "Tho insufficiency of housing accommodation is being continually forced upon iti attention in the course of its work, and it subjoins two examples by way of illustration:—(l) Kent, 21s. per week; dwelling, two-roomed wliare, living-room about 12ft. x 10ft.; domestic appliances, cas stove and sink in tho room; no washhouso nor washing appliances, bath, nor scullery; eleeping-ioom about 10ft. x 10ft.. with upper and lower bunks and 2ft. Gin. stretcher. Occupants: Father (confined to bed by serious illness), mother, and four children (two boys and two girls, ages ranging from U years to two years); a fifth child is Rent out. to sleep. It is not surprising that tho mother is suffering from debility and inertia. (2) Rent, not slated; dwelling, one room under lift, squar-j. Occupants: Fnther, "mother, and five children, ranging in as;es from 12 years to two years. The committee fails to conceive how the social outlook can be contemplated with any complaisance while such conditions as fire indicated by tho above cases remain in existence." "We have evidence that there is a cryins need for improvement of the conditions under which some of our people have to live," remarked Jfr. G. J. Pethpi'.'ck. chairman of the committee. "Tho committee does not propose to pay ttt-e 21s. rent for this place mentioned in the report, but we are making further investigations. Wo are trying to have tin's thing altered." Mr. Petheriek added that tho committee wns continually coming into touch with cases of tho kind referral to in tho report of the committee, and thoro was urgent need for an improvement in tho present conditions,

No Assistance from Government, Mr. J. Hutchison thought tho committee was ta be commended for the way in which it had handled tho subject. "This is an absolute scandal," ho said, "and don't think this is an isolated case. The Government are- not giving any assistance. They aro throwing the mattor back on to the municipal bodies, rhis body will have to give information to the city corporation concerning the scandalous' state of affairs." Mr. Hutchison considered that the name of the landlord who chareed the rent of 21s. should be published.

Mr. C. H. Chapman moved that the rasTJer be brought under the notice of the Citv Council and the Minister of Internal Affairs. "I understand this 21s. whare is in Lyall Bay, one of our modern suburbs," said Mr. Chapman. \\a could undoubtedly find other cues equally as bad, and within five minutes' walk of this room. There are numerous eases of overcrowding in the city, and if the people only knew about them they would insist on an alteration being made in tho conditions."

Mrs. Snow seconded Mr. Chapman' 6 resolution. "They talk about moVala," she remarked. "How can any family be brought up morally under such conditions? It is tiiiw all public boards took a firm stand on this, housing question, and insisted on the municipalities an« the Government doing something in the matter. It is an absolute scandal to New Zealand.-"

Mrs. Beck said (hat until a sufficient number of houses were erected they would have overcrowding, and they should set to work at once to urge tho authorities to take immediate action. jWdi week, (ho Charitable Aid Committee was compelled to pay excessive rents tor wretched hovels. Ju, 0 , 1, ' 1 '™ 1111 of tha meeting, Mr. J. W. il iMvun, entirely endorsed what had taen said. In one portion of To Aro na... he said, there were 280 people living ,on an acre of land. "Considering tho condition of tho houses, if that is not mi excellent breeding-ground for tubercu- ' , I,t n l kno,v wl,Rt is >" he remnrkoi.. Just how to push the Government alfin;: quickly in the matter is one of the dilhculties that presents itself as I havn found in tackling the Government m another capacity. The Government apparently desire to 'go slow' in the mattor.

Voices: They are going very slow.

Cost of Building Material,

Mγ. MlMvan added that the Government were looking forward to the time when the price of building material would uo down. "There will he no very material reduction in the price of urntonal for some year.* to come," said Mr. iutwan. "As lor wages coming down, to my mind that is an absurd expectation. . *

Mrs. Aitken.thought that tenants who siih-let rooms were equally responsible with landlords for charging high rente. Idioms were hard to get, ami as much as JOs. per week was being charged for nmi roonrin which to live ami have meals. She herself had received notice to emit her premises, and had a fortnißlit in which to leave, but she could no!: (m<l another place. "I was hoping that we would have some reduction in our charitable aid exnenditurii." said Mr. Potherick "but walla this sort of thing is going on it is tieri " mpwsible lo obta "» any reduc-

Mrs. Aitfcen: Those who are sub-let-tnur houses have something to answer

i£"!!iioi'd ers: ' llie,v are worse thiui tke

The roDort of the committee was adopted nud Mr. Chapman's motion was earned.