THE HOUSE FAMINE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3448, 30 March 1920, Page 5

THE HOUSE FAMINE.

.\'ON-ESSENITAL BUILDINGS

LABOUR AND MATERIAL BEING VVASTED.

Further reference to the statement;' of the Central Progress League thafi much labour and material is being dvnsted on the erection of non-essential buildings, which could be more usefully devoted to the erection of dwellings was made by Mr G. Mitchell (secretary of the League) to a New Zealand Times reporter. Mr Mitchell detailed a list of thirteen buildings under course of construction in the city itself, showing that 194 men are employed on them. “Some of the buildings under review have only just been started.” said Mr Mitchell, “and will em[ll.o_v many more Tnen in the course of a week or two. Besides these 194 men employed on work at" present. it is estimated that another third of that number is employed in the factory. making" doors, sashes, etc., for tlmse bnil«.lings. We have, there; fore. .‘lppl‘oXinla’CCl§.' 290 men engaged in lmilding thirteen places other than lmnses in \V'ellii~.gton “self to-day. This numbers does not inc‘ ‘e painters and rilnmbers. There are, of course, other l)uilding‘s. and m:=m_v small alterations to shops. etc-.. proceeding, but. I suggest that the figures quoted will quite jiistify the demand for immediate nr»+ion. It is (‘Si’l2‘.’n:'li(‘(l that five men will build :1 five-roamed house in three months. Two hundred and ninety men will therefore build 232 houses in 3. year, or from four to five per week, tlms providing housing accommodation for over two hundred per year. “Some of the bnilldings quoted may be of an urgent nature; others are certainly not. But none are so urgent" as are homes for the people. which is the present problem facing this and other countries. and one of the great causes of unrest and unhappiness. We hold that while the Workers are forced. to live in seine oi‘ the clirty hovels called homes in Wellin,qt.on to-day we have 3 deep cause for social distress that should not exist. and need not for many months longer. One cannot, with the present state of the Ministry, hope for any radical improvement. The situation demands the appointment Of :1 special Minister—~one with courage and energy to carry out a comprehensive national building policy. EV<’«l',V part of the country calls aloud for a. live. nationefl effort to provide our people with homes. an eifort to supersede the semi’-paralysis and disor£3niSl‘~ti°lT' of the Goverm-.ient in this vital ma’!ter.