HOUSING NEEDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 237, 4 July 1944, Page 4

HOUSING NEEDS

Effect Of Shortage On Birthrate CALL TO GOVERNMENT .An urgent call to the Government to speed up measures to provide adequate housing for the people, as a first essential step in rectifying New Zealand's seriously declining birthrate, is made by the executive of the Dominion Settlement Association in a report issued last night, ‘‘Since the association’s recent report on the alarming prevalence of abortion, letters have been pouring in from all parts of the Dominion,” states the executive. “While none of these letters seeks ,to justify abortion on moral grounds, they point to inadequate housing as one of the chief factors responsible for limitation of families. Frankly, the committee is amazed by the desperate position revealed, particularly in the North Island. “Nearly all the letters show a spirit of sturdy independence, worthy to be compared with that of this country’s pioneers. The general plea is not for financial assistance by way of family allowances, but for living accommodation, sufficient to enable children to be reared healthily and happily. There is a desire to have children and a willingness to make sacrifices to bring them up properly. There is, however, a natural reluctance to bring additional children into living conditions which are already grossly overcrowded. “A married man, with five children between the ages of two and 12- years, states: ‘My wife, children and myself are living in a one-roomed cabin. We are sleeping in four small bunks, and the meals are cooked and eaten in the same ■cabin. . . . There is no sink, no bathroom and no washhouse. ... I have tried everywhere to get a house, but no oue will have people with children. The State Advances say we must wait our turn for a State house. . . . No amount of financial assistance could do as much for a family as the provision of a house to live in.’ “The father of seven children, three now married, -states that he, his wife,and the four youngest are living in a house that was intended for a man, wife and one child. • ‘We have been compelled to sell part of our furniture to get sleeping space,’ lie adds. ‘My application for a State house has been ip four years, one of which I spent in board and lodgings, while my wife and little ones lived with our married children. I quite agree that the birthrate is deplorable, but the fact remains that the Government is catering for the family of two’ or three, and any more seems to be a burden.’ Mother’s Letter. “A young mother writes: ‘To have a house aud a garden for my daughter to play in I would give up every pleasure and would be happy to scrape througn from pay day each week, rather than be living as we arc now in two rooms and kitchenette. ... I know that if 1 had a house I would not exchange it for £lO a week, and another baby would be on the way by now. But I don’t ever want another child while we are living in rooms. . .'. Give us a house to live in rather than an endowment for motherhood.’ “Another man writes: ‘Not even a request from a doctor, stating that my. wife .was pregnant and that it was impossible to live in one room with a child and another one coming, could get us a house. So what option was there but abortion? Perhaps 50 per cent, are caused through a like situation.’

“The executive wishes to draw attention to the statement reported to have been made by Mr. R. 0. Love that, in the Government’s programme to build 16,000 houses a year there is no design for a house to hold more than three children. If. this policy is to be continued. New Zealand is headed for extinction. A maximum of three children to’ each married couple will not be nearly sufficient to -replace the present generation, let alone bring about any increase. Jt should be remembered that some of the present generation will not marry, some will have fewer than three children, and some of the children born will not survive. ' ' | “The executive believes that, even st 'best, the provision of sufficient fullyequipped houses of accepted standard is beyond the capacity of the country, without so serious a time lag as will result in disastrous deterioration of family life. Some expedient must be found aud put into operation without delay. Suggested Scheme. “The executive recommends:

“That every encouragement and assistance should Ibe given to married couples to enable them to buy low-priced sections within a redius of say 20 miles of ci,ties and towns, with reasonable travelling facilities to and from work; tlie Government to purchase and subdivide blocks of land for this purpose. “That loans of £3OO upwards, to the extent of 90 per cent, of the value of the land and house, should be granted to enable them to erect a minimum unit of two rooms (even if the interior is not completely finished), as the first instalment of a completely-planned house of four to six rooms; the initial unit to be so designed that the minimum of alteration is necessary as the premises are extended. “That they be assured of subsequent; loans sufficient to enable them to add one room to the house on the birth of each of tlie second, third and fourth children. “That building and other bylaws be relaxed to facilitate such a programme. “That this programme should be sujplementary to, and not iu substitution, of, State and private building of complete houses, which should be stepped up to the full capacity of labour and materials available.

“That all State houses built in future should provide accommodation for at least four children. “That complete State houses should, be reserved solely for families with two or more children and for returned, married servicemen. “The executive is confident that thousands of people now suffering the indignity of living under crowded and unhealthy conditions in rooms in someone else’s bouse, would welcome the opportunity of ‘roughing ’it’ in a two-room unit of their omt, if they were assured Of being able later to extend their accommodation to meet the needs of their growing families. At present they exist without hope; under the suggested plan they would willingly strive and save to secure a complete home of their own, of which the unit dwelling would form the initial part.”