HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 5 September 1919, Page 8

HOUSING PROBLEM

♦ RESULTOF A CHANCE CANVASS A LABOUR MEMBER'S STATEMENTS ' CRITICISED. . «' In the course of its report to the City • Council- last evening, the Public Health stated:—"That circulars with ' reference to tho matter of housing have been forwarded to corporation .employees. '. The replies received indicate .that 203 om- , ployees aro prepared to purchase houses 'on.' deposits ranging from £o to .£3OO. In addition, seven offer sections as deposits; " '16 are prepared to purchase, but !havo •, not. stated the amount. of' 'deposit, and "S2-iire prepared to purchaso but are unable at present to pay deposits, making a total of 303 oniployeos who would, be prepared to avail themselves of facilities granted under tho council's schoiuo." Counoillor R. A. Wrighi said that the result was satisfactory oven as far as ;.their own employees were concerned. A 'lair number of them were prepared to '''•ro in for homes of their own. Councillor J. Glover said that he noticed that in another place a gentleman had said that he could provide houses at .a rental of 10s. 6d. If that were the case-the Housing Committee had better ! go out of business, and also their en•'■gineers. They had found on careful inquiry they'could not build houses for less than from ,£IOOO to .£I2OO, but here was someone who could build the same for a weekly rental of 10s. Gd. (He suggested that Sir-Joseph Ward ought to be consulted on.what should bo done. , Councillor T. Forsyth drew attention to a'statement which had been made by .Councillor P. Praser in another place about certain 'houses in Wellington. He •wished to know if Councillor Eraser had reported these nlaces to the council. ■ Councillor C. *H. Chapman said the reference or Councillor Fr'aser was to places he had visited,in company with the sani- . tary inspector. . . ' ' ' An Important Statement. During the course of the discussion Councillor L. M'Kcnzie read the following statement on- the increase in tho cost of building:— '' _■ When dealing with. tho question that is looming, so importantly in the rmblic eye, perhaps it would'bo interesting to the council to show how the value of the houses has increased during the last fewyears :—. ... , 1905 for • every ' .£IOO 190G -increased... .1907 increased ,£lO5 IMS declined ,£9B* 1909 . increased <8101 MM ~" £M •1911 . ~ .£lO9 1912 '. ■„- vfill3 MM „- „ . Xllß . 19M. , „ J2130 JMS j, ' ' .£152 . ■M 6 ~ .£172 :■••■■,' IMV „ .£220 ' • WIS ■„. £U . IM9 ' ' „ £2m *This was the slump year. This has been carefully arrived at after taking actual samples of tho buildups; Therefore, you can state that a building costing ,£SOO in 1905 would now cost .£I3OO in few. ' "T!? 8 -, actual of. the building iWould be shown as representing in 191S £lia increase, but the other ,£IOO could ;be put down -to war profits, that is shown by providing for an increase in' the corresponding years where the war .was. not effective. Another interesting return can be shown in tho roofing of (houses; iron, felt and earkin& in 1905 cost i 3 ss. 6d. per squaro laid downthe same in 1913 cost £!i 7s. Gd., whilst in. 1917 it cost M 13s. 6d. Surely it is neoessarj, • after such figures:are shown ' and such increases are taking place that it becomes necessary for the public to consider whether' the duty should not bo taken off imported timber, and whether the export of our timbers here should not be-prohibited; otherwise, if this .ratio,continues, it will be impossible to (house the people in anything but canvas. I therefore move that a committee be eet up to make an investigation, and ■ 6ee if some recommendation cannot tbo 'arrived at"

Councillor Luckio severely criticised Councillor Fraser for having, at the public meeting on ths housing question, condemned what had been done by all but the four-Labour members of. tlie council, Councillor Eraser was not present at tho council Meeting, and Councillor Luckie that .lie had been saving up ,what he had to' say in the hone that Councillor leaser might come along. He 6aid,tliat Councillor Froser was, in-the deliberations of the'council, logical and sound "according to his lights," but. at the publio meeting he had proved himself illogical and disingenuous in his eagerness to make political capital, The Mayor agreed with what Councillor Luckie had said.

~; . tanncillor Shorlaud said it was time ;!turot , the Labour members took upon themselves the credit of doing everything ■that, had, been done, in connection with the housing scheme. As a matter ■ of rfaot, tho Labour members had nothin<* ■to do with the origin of it. He was personally,, responsible for that himself. . Councillor Wright claimed that Councillor Eraser's allegation that the four Labour members of the council were chiefly responsible for the creditable report of the Housing, Committee was not correct, and the records would show that. \ 'The\ report of tho committee was adopted, and Councillor M'Kenzie's report WB referred to the Housing Committee for careful'consideration.