HOUSING PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1937, Page 15

HOUSING PROBLEM

RENT RESTRICTIONS

A DUNEDIN CRITICISM

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.")

DUNEDIN, This Day.

While it is generally recognised that there is an acute shortage of houses in Dunedin at the present time, the position is becoming worse, said a business man. After outlining reasons for the shortage, \.he freely criticised the Government and municipal hous : ing schemes, and offered several suggestions for relief o£ the situation, including removal of the. Government's rent restrictions* which, he- said, were preventing investment of capital in house building. No one today "buys or builds a home for letting purposes, he said, because of' the' Rent Restriction Act,, and because considerable difficulty, was experienced in getting, possession of the house even when.a satisfactoiy tenant was found by the owner; This was the main reason for the acute shortage of houses, but another factor which was increasing1 the shortage was the slow but gradual demolition of old houses and the acquisition of the land for other purposes. Formerly capital was available for new houses.

The demand for homes had been greatly increased on account of so many young people receiving increased wages, while there was also a marked tendency for many country people, particularly the owners of small' farms, to drift into the city. '■■•■'*.

Dealing with the present housing schemes under way he said that what was required today was the abolition of" the policy of ,the Government and City Corporation in. buying land for houses. The worker should be allowed to choose his own site in the district nearest to his place of employment, and the Government or local body should advance him the greater part of the money towards the cost of his, home over a period of 20 or 30 years on first mortgage with instalments payable.on a half-yearly basis. . . ; ■ , : ■■..