Overcrowding and Disrepair

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 50, 22 November 1937, Page 7

Overcrowding and Disrepair

-Press Association.)

AUCKLAND HOUSING Revelations of CounciFs Survey GOVERNMENT ACTION?

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, This Day. That 14 per cent. of the 14,532. dwelling units within the area of the survey ^ aro overerowded as Tegards sleeping accommodation and that 32 per eent. are unsatisfaetory in rcspcct of domestic equipment are- the outstanding features of the Auckland City Council 's report on the liou'sing survey. Of the 10,698 buildings used for dwelling purposes, about one-third are structurally unsatisfaetory ahd 7 1-3 per cent. are deemed "unsatisfaetory and repair is impracticable " and should be demolished. There has been4 generally, amazing past neglect of property, the report comments. ' Only one-fourth of the 14,532, dwelling units are oceupied bjr their owners, and vacancies represent about 2 per cent. of the total. The report says that 19,878, or 23 per cent., of the population, have been detrimentally affected as regards domestic accommodation and equipment and 3056, or 6 1-3 per cent., as regards over-, crowded sleeping quarters. There are 118 detached outhouses in backyarda being used as dwellings contrary to the by-laws. The sharing of sanitary equipment to an extent upwards of 20 persons is not rare. The city engineer, Mr J. Tyler, states in his report that it is difficult to say what action the couneil can take under its present powers to rectif y certain features of the position. "It is understood, however, that the Government intends to enact housing legislation based on the survey s through. out the Dominion, and in the meantime it i* advisable rigidly to enforce the zoning scheme and by-laws," he adds. Mr Tyler istates that it is prohably safe to observe that there is sufficient repair work to keep all building-trade workers in the eity in constant emplovment for some years.