WELLINGTON CITY TO BUILD HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 16, 14 October 1943, Page 3

WELLINGTON CITY TO BUILD HOUSES

Start To Be Made With 20 EFFORT TO RESUSCITATE SMALL BUILDER

The erection by the council of 20 houses ou corporation property, the houses to be sold when erected, was decided by the Wellington Lily Gouncil last night on the recommendation of the housing committee. The city engineer, Mr. K- K Luke, was instructed to call for tenders for the houses on the basis of for one house or for a group of not more than six. It; was ftirther decided that the Government be requested by deputation. (a) To give the builders of these houses the same priorities as the builders of State houses receive iu regard to labour and materials, aud also the benefit of the same prices and conditions applying to State houses; (b) to pass legislation to amend the Wellington City Housing Act to enable any purchaser of a council house to receive the same guarantee from the council as a person building under the Act is entitled to at the preesnt time; (c) to disclose to the council the provisions of the Slum Clearance Bill promised last session. Next to the war effort housing was the biggest problem, said Cr. 11. L. Maealister, housing committee chairman. Lvfore the Government clamped down on housing the council did what it could to make areas available to the Government, for instance, the Wilton Block at Wadestown, now half roaded, and whicli he hoped would be one of the first areas the Government would start on. Ibere was also the Wellington City Housing Act, under which people were assisted to build up to 90 per cent, of the valuation. Hightv-seven persons took advantage ot this iip till the time building was stopped. The council also decided two years ago to embark ou its own housebuilding scheme on corporation land and sell the houses to those who needed them. He thought the council should continue to assist the Government in every way, but at the same time it should press for the small builder being put into operation again, and getting the same treatment as those contracting for State building. The houses proposed would be an example of what could be done in wartime, and give a line on costs. He believed the small builders would quote reasonable “The'Wellington housing report of 1937 showed that 7377 families out of ~J,ut>( were living iu unsatisfactory housing units. That was the position six years ago: what was it like today? Hie annual average of house-building permits from 1921 to 1936 was 483, whereas 643 houses were then needed to keep up with the yearly growth of the city. In 1942, there were 187 built, aud for the financial year ended March, 1913, only three rooms —an adidtion by a carpenter to his own home at a cost of £250. The small builders had built in good times and bad, where and when required, up or down to a standard, and even arranged finance. He would like to see them resuscitated and given the same chance as the men building State houses, who, he believed, could get materials at a lower price. The small builders had also been at a great disadvantage with labour in the past few years. They had to get men. from the Ibig con tractors who, instead of laying men off at intervals during jobs, sublet them at a profit percentage of five, 10 and even up. to la per cent, of the wages paid. This profiteering in manpower had been proceeding for mouths. It would continue unless a noise was made about it. As for the Slum Bill, the council should have details, so it could' form embryo plans with an eye on the future when, cheap money and labour would be available for rehabilitation works. Cr. M. F. Duckie said he considered housing more important than the civic centre, provided the land was reserved intact for the latter purpose. With a proper approach they could secure Government co-operation. '. Cr. R. McKeen said that the attitude (he council was now taking up might leave it open to the susnicion that it was actuated because of next year’s local elections. • The Government had offered the council money to build before the war, but the councillors refused it for political motives. He was prepared to assist in every way, but let them get on with the job. The job was too big for small men; they wanted houses by the hundred, not by the dozen. That day a soldier with seven children had come to him. With his wife and family he was living' in a house of four rooms and kitchenette with another married couple who had four children —15 persons in one house. And both wives were expecting to go into hospital soon. AVhat about the council ensuring that the solicitor and other landlords of estate properties, including the Public Trust, did something to put existing homes in order? If the Government had not to build hospitals and camps for its own troops aud also meet the demands of the American forces, it would have built the houses. There was room for private enterprise, said Or. W. Appleton. He had concrete evidence of it recently. They must ensure, however, that_ the. small builders got a chance. At Karori a building society had a small group of houses con-, structed much cheaper (han the cost ot State houses, and the interest and principal payments were less (han (he rents of the same size of State homes. There was no need to be at cross-purposes with the Government iu their plan; there was room for both as the housing position was today. Labour should be pooled ; the big contractors should not be allowed to hand it. out. As for the repair of old houses, there was no incentive to do this if no return could be got on capital. Cr. F. AV. Hurkert: You all favour the scheme, but have spoken for an hour as though you. were fighting someone opposing it.