HOMES FOR THE POOR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 864, 7 January 1930, Page 9

HOMES FOR THE POOR

MANCHESTER COMPANY’S SCHEME ELIMINATING SLUMS With the completion of a further 28 houses by Manchester Housing (1926), Ltd., proper housing accommodation has been provided for 52 of the poorest families from Manchester’s slum areas. The society was launched in March, 1926, the object being to build good houses at rents which the poorest could pay by raising capital from public-spirited friends who would be content with a low rate of interest, it being found that high interest on loans was the chief reason why municipalities were unable to let houses to the very poor, says the “Manchester Guardian Weekly.” By August, 1927, the first 24 tenants were in occupation of the society's houses at Newton Heath. Another two years have now passed, and during this time a second scheme of 28 houses has been completed. For the two schemes, a sum of £26,000 in capital has been raised. The houses built are of the threebedroomed, non-parlour type, with the exception of four four-bedroomed houses built for unusually large families. The rents charged are 7s a week, plus rates, which at the present time make a total of 10s lid a week. Houses where the father is the sole wage-earner are let at 9s lid. Selection of Tenants The selection of tenants was a matter of great difficulty, for more than 1,000 families applied for the 52 houses. But by considering only those who could not afford a municipal house, and who were likely to make satisfactory tenants, a substantial reduction was made. Eventually 410 people were accommodated. The raising of further capital will allow' the society to continue the work. The tenants who have been installed for tw'o years, for the most part, give an absolute refutation to the suggestion that people from poorer neighbourhoods cannot make good use of a decent house if they are given the chance. There are, of course, one or two who have not done so well as the others, and there was one family which the committee was reluctantly forced to replace. But on the threefold test of care of house, care of garden, and payment of rent, the experiment has been thoroughly justified. A garden guild has been established, the head gardener of one of the Manchester parks gives valuable advice, and through the guild various tools have been bought for common use. An inspection of the gardens by experts show r ed that for people who had come from the heart of the most congested areas of Manchester, the results were excellent.