THE HOUSING PROBLEM AND THE WORKING MAN

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 4

THE HOUSING PROBLEM AND THE WORKING MAN

Sir,—Apropos of the position that the workingiiian, of to.-day rinds himself in, owing to :tiie shortage of houses and the present inilated-'Values of laud and houses that are now ruling, owners of houses are selling tltsni as fast as they can to participate in tlio gamble' that is now going on in this country. It is quite evident that unless the Government brings forward immediately somo scheme to alleviate, tha distress and hardship that are being forced upon the worker, who is being forced out of his house, through it being sold, there is no saying what may happen. • Owing.to the high cost of living that has existed for the last fivp years, tire working man 'with-- a family has had. a hard row to hoc. His children, who are an asset-to the State, have been starved in 'many ways, and are not getting a chance alongside the producer, the merchant, or tho capitalists' children, who have not merely existed but havo.lived in luxury. How is it, Sir, that so. many farmers "are able.to retire into privato life, ami pay exorbitant prices for town residences, and the majority of.them are practically young men? There is only one answer:for it, and-1 ieavo it to your renders'to conjure. .... As sure as the price of -land goes up and the present shortage., of houses exists, so surely, will tho cost of living go up also. ' One-half of the community docs not know how the other half lives, or merely exists,' and when a worker is out to ge't more wages he.is told .that he is only increasing the cost of living. Big profits were made during tho-war, and now tho horse is out of the stable, and the election is coming along,.,tho Government is endeavouring to do something. Thanking vou for tha space granted me, and hoping that this important matter of housing-the people will .not be shelved this session, but.be tackled im-mcdiatoly.'-I am, etc.,' ' ■WOE-KING MAN. Fending;-September 30, 1919.