Housing and Costs

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 91, 4 May 1937, Page 9

Housing and Costs

RALPH EWART BARLEY.

Sir, — I am deliglited that at least one citizen, who signs himself "Ratepaycr," is pleased with the project of n« » homes for the people. His one and only anxiety seems to be; will the tenants be able to alford them ? He speaks of champagne ainenities which may be btjcna the slender pockets of the tenants. Well, full many • have suffered tho real pain and privatibns of the last seven years, a sup of the champagtto extras may have a soothing effect and eome as a welcome chango. I am convinced that the same humane power that is providing the amenities will also supply the wherewithal to secure and hold these comforts. Why should the useful people of our country be eontent to liv(> in drab surroundings. Why ask people to reside in inconvenient tenements at 17/6 when a new home is available as a reward for useful service at very little extra cost? Mr Editor, I quite entered into all the meaning of costs and cloth, etc. Like thousands more I erred in judgment and lost, but 1 rose to another effort without tears or lamentation. There is a third element in coat cutting, i.e«, the element of slirinkage. Thousands of splendid workers in our community had cut their coats in confiderce that the fabric was stablo and secure. Then the latO Government turned off the supply and put in a few cutSj nearly ten per cent. and ten per cent,. again. The useful men o: tbe rai.way, post ofiice, and social se.vice were the first to sample them. Their wilheung effects ruined the stabilit.v of the fal»ric, values crashed, bomes wer« surrendered. With wage eut there was no more cloth available for ina'ny. Soon the long queues lined up outside the food depots and the Red Cross for cUst-off coats of other men. We experienced a tamino m the midst of plenty How fortunate, Mr Ratepayer was to liave enjoyed such a period of prosperity and surplus that he was able to sit secure "nionarch of all he surveyed" with a home all paid for. I notice he had a motto, "What be had he held," a bulldog slogan. I ahvays envjsage a pugnacious animal with teeth when I read this slogan. There is a motto more altrulstie I would commend. "What I have I aliare." His slogan was no great motto

to have held when other men and women were in dire need. Well, We trust those days have passed- A nCw rnill was opened in the latter end of 1935. From that boom is emanating a fabrio of a better weave. The time is at hand when the toilers of this land will be entering into a larger share of comfort and leisure and education as a reward for their service1 "When every man (like Mr Ratepayer) , shall be able to sit down under his own vine and fig tree, none daring to maka a.fraid." — Ynnrs. *>+,«._

Hastings, May 1, 1937.