STATE HOUSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 111, 27 May 1937, Page 9

STATE HOUSES

Own Correntioiident.)

Auckland Criticism oi Rents SOME DISAPPOINTMENT

IBt ToIeffraDh—

ATJCKLAD, Last Night. Disappointment at the rents announced by the Government under itB housing scheme is expressed by the Rev. JaH^er Calder, City Missioner, who said that those people that the Government set out to help by instituting a housing scheme would not benefit on account of the high rents announced. "It only means that a Tent is bedng asked not much lower than ordinary rent, but that fares have also to be added," he said. "The principle of a rebat© for good tenancy is excellent. I have always been in favour of such a scheme, but have only known i.one landlord to put it into operation. He had marked success. ' "As far as the small houses are 'concerned — the two and three roomed flats — these should be \let to the olEer people," continued Mr. Calder. "Many old people are compelled to live ' in hovels, and they should have preference. The m^rridd cotuples without children, with the husband working, can afford to wait. The houses that are beang built will help to make up for the shortage that has been evident for so long, but the poorcr classes will not benefit."

Trades Unionists' Viewpoint. While frankly confessing to a measure of disappointment at the scale o£ xentals to be asked for houses and flats under the Government 's housing scheme, unionists dn Auckland pointed out that the rents assessed were reasonable when compared with presentday values of houses for rental in the city and suburbs, and consideration was given to the type of houee being erected by the State and the xuling cost of building materials. Some opinion was that the rents were beyond the reach of many workers, including skdlled tradesmen, who were earning little above the basic wage of £3 15/-, and that the Government should have striven to provide housing for this class of the community at a figure nearer the mark of rent on the basis of one day's pay. It was also explained that the rentals were indicative of the need for the Arbitration Court to fix a higher living wage and for the Government to produce the materuals for housing construction and exercise more control in the matter. One man consulted said that the understanding was that the Government would fix the aVerage rent at one day's wages, but ho anticipated fhato tho Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, Mr. J. A. Lee, M.P., would maintain that the intention was to fix a rental at a figure which would represent the average daily earnings of a whole famcly. The average earnings of workmen in most callings would not exceed £4 and he knew of skilled tradesmen who had not averaged the basic wage over the paet three years. Thjese men could not afford to pay more than 15/a week for rent if they and their families were to live ; at all decently. "I do not reckon that the ordinary workman or factory hand ean afford to pay more than £1 a week rent, as that yepresents a quarter of the average wage," commented a well-known union secretary. /'A man. with three or four children cannot possible afford the rent to be asked for some of the larger type of Government houses. If he should undbrtake the proposition presented to him he would be just swimming, and struggling continually to keep his head above water."

Not Jerry Built. Another of the secretariea eaid he was wiliing to bet that' people could not secure houses of equal type to those being built by the State at rentals announced by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser. "My own opinion," he added, "ds that the reutals are reasonable, as the State houses are not being jerry built, and are being equipped with every modern convenience. A four-roomed house next to me is commanding £1 10/-, and although it has only been up for about six months the water is coming througli the roof, and the weather boards are bulging. Judging by this I should say that the 25/- to be charged for a simi,lar Government house is . not excessive." Asked for his opinion a unionist who has been studying housing conditions, not only dn New Zealand but abroad, in recent years, commented: "One tMng is apparent in vi,ew of the rentals announced, and that ds that the Arbitration Court has to fix a higher living wage. It proves conclusively to mu that, rents in New Zealand are among the highest in the world. Another thing is very plain, and. that is that the State must take some part in controlling building and in producdng the essentials for house building." The Yery Rev. Monsignor Holbrook said that he presumed the houses would be vastly superior to tho ordinary type of building, with the latest equipmcnt. More houses of that class were necessary. Tliore were dwellings for all sections of the commundty. Seeing that they were to be better fitted up .and more esfjifortable than fthe dwellings usually let to the people, he thought that the rents were Teasonable. "Many, of course, would like everything for nothing, " he added. "I hope the Government will go on building such houses in every part of New Zealand."