HOUSING AND SLUMS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 6

HOUSING AND SLUMS

10-Year Plan To Overcome Wellington- Shortage TO BE URGED ON NEW CITY COUNCIL The Town Hall Concert Chamber was packed to capacity last night to hear a report of the Wellington Housing and Accommodation Committee which advocated a 10-year plan to overcome the housing difficulties. The Bev. H. Squires presided. At the conclusion ol the screening of a film, “The City,” and several speeches, a resolution was carried unanimously urging the incoming city council to take immediate action to implement the proposals in the report. “AVe are not pushing any particular political banner, but we are pushing for better housing conditions,” said Mr. Squires. Those conditions were uot worthy of the sacrifices being made on the fronts overseas. AVhat was wanted was that whatever council was elected should get on with, the job of cleaning up what could be a’wonderful city. The secretary, Mr. 11. Meek, announce:, that 34 letters.had been sent to city council candidates asking for their opinions on the organization’s pamphlet. “In the Shadow of the Slums.” A number of replies had been received, all of which agreed with the serious nature of the situation. but varying methods of solution were offered. Invitations had also been sent to Messrs. Appleton and Roberts am. Dr Silverstone to address the meeting. In presenting the committee's plans to overcome the problem, the chairman of the committee, Mr. AA r . McAra, referred to the report of the city engineer brougb. down in 1938, which showed that the increase in the city’s population between 1921 and 1938 necessitated the building of C 43 houses a year. The actual number built was 483 a year, leaving a shortage of 160 yearly, The Government had a responsibility, but that was some thing national. ' There was a responsibility ou the municipality to co-operate. The committee did not hke tempora.y accommodation, but some would be necessary till such period as permanent accommodation was provided., To overcome the shortage it would be necessary to build at least 1600 houses a year .The ■committee suggested that this should be achieved by the co-operation of private enterprise, the State and the municipal-; ity A 10-yenr programme envisaged the building of 16,000 dwelling units involving a capital expenditure of £22,00(1,000. It was not intended that the. same families remain in temporary units for the full period. As permanent homes were built they should be allocated to families in most urgent need. The programme meant that permanent housing would be achieved for 58,000 people in all. The need for bathing and shower facilities was stressed by Miss Valentine, the Y.W.C.A. representative on the committee. She made it clear that-this was not the tepid bath question. The Labour candidate for the mayoraltv, Mr. James Roberts, said that when invited to attend the meeting he had not considered it something political. The issue was of such importance that it should have the co-operation of every citizen in an effort to find a solution., Labour’s policy in the matter was explained by. Mr. Roberts and followed the lines of speeches already, given. He urged citizens to get behind those who pledged themselves to build good homes. The reasons for Mr. Appleton’s nonattendance at the meeting had been published, said Mr. Meek. One of the Citizens’ candidates, Cr. AV. 1/. Stevens, had, however,. replied at length to the request for an opinion on. the pamphlet This wag read to the audience. A point stressed was that the council was anxious to proceed with slum clearance, but could not do so till thf Government passed the necessary legislation. Dr. Silverstone stressed that the committee’s report did not saddle the council with responsibility for the housing shortage and did not demand that the council should do the whole job. It issued a challenge to all administrative Authorities and the people to see that its programme was carried put. It had been suggested that legislative enactment was required tb effect slum clearance. The speaker mentioned that there had .been slum clearance in AVellington in the past —Blair Street, Allen Street, Aitken Street, and-where the city milk department’s building.stood. Empowering legislation Jiad been forthcoming then. The matter was, however, more than one of legislative enactment. He quoted rents obtained from the ,Te Aro area, which covered 56 acres, and had a population of 6492. ■ These showed >a total of £103,133, as follows: Private houses, £65,000; satisfactory apartments. £8460; unsatisfactory apartments. £29,400. The amount of £103.133 from 56 acres represented a capital investment of approximately £20,000,000. The solution of the problem, he contended, was to be found along the lines of the Government’s defence works programme. He quoted 'such facts as the erection in a very short period of hutments which would accommodate th? equivalent of the whole AVellington and urban population of 170,000. aiffithe huge hospital built in Auckland in la weeks.