THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 17 March 1920, Page 3

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

(To the Editor.) fsir.—On reading your report of the Otaki Town Board’s conference with Mr W. H. Field. M.lh. I notice one very important omission from the matters touched upon for the progress of Otaki. In fact, unless it is first dealt with T consider if almost useless bothering about any of the other items. I refer to the housing problem. As is well known, it is almost impossible to rent a house in Otaki, and many pro-’ perfies change hands at very high rates That a Town Board may borrow money to build houses in shown by the fact that among the Applications for loans entertained by the Government we find those of the Manaia Town Board. £10.000; Kaponga Town Board, £10,000; and among applications received but not yet granted are found the names of the Morrinsvillo Town Board. £IO,OOO. and Kawhia Town Board £I6OO. Perhaps the members of these Boards really wish to see their towns progress. A lot is said about attracting visitors to Otaki. but even though excellent hotel accommodation is to be secured at rates below those of many other towns, many people prefer to live in their own homes. (In Otaki there are 24S people who wish to close the hotels.) I understand a previous - attempt to form Otaki into a borough was dropped on account of there not being a large enough population. Well. I believe if a few houses were available at a reasonable rent the population would soon be sufficient for a borough. Even if we wish to make the town a close corporation for those at present here, we must remember tho members of families are growing up. and marriages will take place. Then there is nothing left for the young couple but to remove to some more prosperous town where houses may be available.

I do not know what land the Otaki Town Board has available for building on. Most local bodies generally manage to secure endowments which are revenue producing. If the Otaki Town Board has no such means of revenue, whv was not some attempt to secure itmade at last Thursday’s conference? The Town Board have appointed a building inspecror and a sanitary inspector. If the Board undertook s building scheme the by-laws would be complied with and the town would ger the “'push''-' which Mr Field said it needed.—i am. etc.. PROGRESS.