VIEWS ON HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 8

VIEWS ON HOUSING

Ex-Soldiers’ Proposals

Temporar.v accommodation, the availability of weekend homes, luxury building and’ conservation of housing materials were discussed at length bj' the R.S.A. Dominion council conference in a debate on housing. Mr. D. W. Russell (Christcliurcb) suid that 2nd N.Z.E.F. men. after a meeting in Christchurch, had asked him to drew intention to expenditure on luxury buildings. They instanced the new railwaj' goods shed project at Christchurch to cost fens, of thousands. Similarly, wilh the heavy expenditure on Bellamys. Men aud materials should lie diverted to housing. Mr. 11. O. Heighten (Onehunga) Complained of tlie erection of a racing stable near Auckland.

If permits were properly controlled there would be no luxury building, said Mr. A. E. Postlcwaite (Auckland). Returned men were living in hovels, said Air. G. A. Hayden (Wellington). They could be temporarily accommodated with their families in vacated camps. Mr. J. D. Harper (Wellington) said that two hotels had been vacated by visiting forces. One was being turned into Government, offices. That seemed wrong. Both should be used to accommodate families till they wore given houses. The mayor of AVellinglon. Mr. Applelon. was investigating temporary accommodation. said Air. AV. E. Headley (AVellingfon). Mr. A. AV. Newton (Palmerston North) advised against advocacy of a scheme Io fake over people's beach and weekend Imuses. They must not ali.en.-iIo support by interfering with individual rights. The conference approved of the Dominion executive committee’s action in asking the Government to ascertain howmany bouses wore not occupied for the greater part, of the year (particularly beach ami weekend houses) and in requesting that, due Io the desperate housing position, these be made available to ex-servicemen.

Tim conference resolved that in view of the present acute sborfagc of certain materials the Government bo requested to reserve available material Cor the reUitifoments of returned and returning service personnel, such mtilerial to be used either for rural buildings or privntelyow- ' homos for servicemen or State rental houses-.

It was recommended that tlie present preferential allocation of Slate houses to ex-servicemen and women Im increased to 75 per cent.