THE HOUSING SCANDAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 4 June 1918, Page 4

THE HOUSING SCANDAL.

Our reference to the housing problem with Whicli Taihape is faced has brought forth a flood of enquiries, the refrain of almost everyone being "What can be done to improve matters. Let us first tell our enquirers that Taihape is not the only borough that has experienced a similar difficulty. In fact, in a less degree, others are having similar trouble. Even Wanganui has felt compelled to provide houses for the workmen the town cannot do without; and the borough Council has already built a number of houses, and, dispute the high cost of building it has decided to go on erecting others. It is, perhaps, not generally ing it has decided to go on erecting others. It is,' perhaps, not generally understood that one of the chief functions of a borough council is the establishment and management of workers' dwellings, which workers, if they choose, can by paying a weekly sum, make the houses their own in a given number of years. If all classes of this community are,; .earnest in the desire to put an end to the insanitary state brought about by room-letting, there is no occasion. whatever why present conditions should continue. We think it would not be at all -difficult to bring about arrangements whereby workers could avail themselves of the Government Loan ...to,.*-Workers' provisions, either with or .without cpnnection with the borough council. An association of workers might be formed much as village settlements and special settlement associations have been formed in former years, and it is past our understanding why businessmen and employers generally have shirked their responsibilities in this connection. They engage workmen from distant places, not troubling or caring about where these men are to put their wives and families on arrival. Some of the men send their families back and go on working here for a time hoping that a house or rooms will eventually be available. Some are successful but the majority quit their employment and Taihape in disgust. It is obviously unjust to treat men in this' way and it should not be continued, more especially as there are means for remedying the injustice as well as for remedying the evils attending over-crowd-ing. We ask businessmen, particularly the Tradesmens' Association, in the interests of the town and in the cause of common humanity, to take prompt steps to solve this housing problem, which has become a scandal and disgrace to the community.