HOUSING PROBLEM.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4779, 21 November 1924, Page 2

HOUSING PROBLEM.

CONGESTION IN WELLINGTON. “SHACKS CALLED HOMES.” In the course of an address at the Rotary Club in Wellington Mr W. T. Strand (Mayor of Lower Hutt) stated that in Wellington during the past fourteen years the population had increased by 30,000, and the number ot homes required to house this additional number, allowing four rooms per house, was 6666, whereas only 4840 had been erected, which indicated a shortage of 1826. 7’here were, he asserted, hundreds of shacks and buildings called homes which, in .the interests of the health and happiness of the community, and particularly ou womean and children, should be abolished and real homes built m more congenial surroundings. We had 788 dwellings carrying up to four persons per room, excluding kitchen, instead of one and a half, which was the maximum allowed by the Health Department for comfortable housing, provided the homes were good. During 1921-2 the cost per dwelling for the whole of New Zealand was £725 ; for 1922-3, £7BB , and for 1923-4, £BOB. Our difficulties, he stated were social and moral, and the only remedies were to be found in the application of the Rotarian motto, “Service and Sacrifice. The general good should now be given the right-of-way, and service should ne placed before self if the necessary measures of reform had to be effected. The chairman (Mr D. A. Ewen) intimated that Mr Strand had drawn up certain proposals with a view to solving the housing problem, and it was decided to appoint a committee to collaborate with him in bringing them forward.