HOUSING SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 4

HOUSING SHORTAGE

Position Of Returned Servicemen N.Z.R.S.A. REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT The posititon of discharged servicemen with families who cannot find homes is growing progressively worse, according to a report presented to the Dominion executive of the Returned Services Association. Instances were given of men returned from service in the Middle East who were living in distressing conditions, and it is considered that as more men return the position will get worse. It was also reported that large numbers of single service personnel are occupying State rental houses and the executive expressed the opinion that these should be accommodated in barracks and houses made available to ex-servicemen requiring homes. , , , The executive decided to make urgent -representations to the Acting-Prime Minister. Mr. Sullivan, to have the position investigated. In order further to alleviate the position it was decided to urge the Government to consider the erection of temporary housing accommodation on the lines of defence works camps and similar to those on.- temporary factory sites in Britain. The association will also ask the Government to consider comnelling those persons with more than one house for instance those with weekend cottages and such like, to make them available for the relief of the present housing position, with suitable safeguards for vacant possession when reasonably required by the owners. - • It was also decided to ask the Government to increase the preference percentage of State houses set aside for exservicemen to 75 in districts where the need is most pressing.