The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1919. THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1919. THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

The provision of dwellings for the workers in England, Scotland and Wale 3 is a i'ar greater problem than is generally, realised by the people of the Dominions, except by those who are acquainted with the actual conditions which prevailed in pre-war times. The Lloyd George Government, in spite of the unprecedented pressure of war matters, found time to devote to the consideration of a number oi! important questions connected with social betterment, and within a month of two of the cessation of hostilities an announcement is made that work of construction of the half million houses necessary for the well be-

iiig of the masses ia already being taken in hand. At a moderate estimate the amount of capital involved in an undertaking of this

magnitude would ran into be

tweeu one and iwo hundred million sterling, and this ia being face.d despite the colossal debt connected with the wai*. Britain hfer, already shown marvellous vitality' and. driving- power, and the Government is pledged to give the workern a square deal in return lor their great work in war time. It is also part of the reconstruction policy io so essential to make up for the ravages of the military struggle,

From every possible point of view it is sound policy to ensure that the masses are properly housed and that their environment is greatly improved. The workers will never revert to pre-war conditions of living after having enjoyed the high wages ruling during the war. Good health can only be ensured under satisfactory sanitary conditions, and to expect these to be found in the jerrv-built death traps created by the speculative builder is to take no account of the experience of the past A country's greatest asset is a strong, healthy vigorous people, living under conditions that engender a love of home life of contentment, with leisure for recreation and intellectual expansion. The garden cities have furnished object lessons of what can be done to make the of the workers happy and profitable, and though it is not to be expected that such ideal conditions can be the rule, it is possible to .institute such great improvements that in the course of time the wage-earn-ers' existence will be no longer drab colored, but raised to a place in the sun where fresh, air and good sanitation will do their share in making life worth living. It is obvious that satisfactory conditions cannot be found in the congested areas, therefore it is worthy of note that the Imperial Government has decided to utilise the Lght railways which were constructed in the war theatres. These railways are to be relaid in Britain so as to act as feeders to the lines already in existence, so that it will be possible for the workers to live outside the urban districts and be carried to and from their work rapidly and inexpensively. The herding of people together in slum areas is a deplorable of human energy and vitality, besides preventing either comfort or decency. The recognition of this has brought into being ip the Homeland a Housing Department, created by the English and Scotch Local Government Boards, and the local authorities have already expressed their willingness to assist in the scheme. At the same time it must not be supposed that this State effort is of itself sufficient to deal with the housing problem, for there will still be an ample field of operations in this direction for private enterprise. The State, however, should set up a standard below which the investing builder should not be allowed to go. Even so it will take some years to meet requirements, and the workers will gradually grow into their new conditions and get away from the evils of the past. There is a sufficiency of Labor members' in the present House of Commons to ensure that the lot of the workers will be vastly improved and to bring pressure on the Government and the local authorities to do their duty, not perfunctorily, but thoroughly. Shorter working hours, higher wages, greater facilities for physical and mental culture are bound to exercise a beneficial influence on the community and especially in the promotion of family and social life. As an economic policy this scheme is thoroughly sound, and as a factor in the country's greatness it should prove potent. The Government has the power to initiate, a scheme of this nature that 110 private enterprise could possess. It can take land at a reasonable price and keep down the cost of materials, besides providing the necessary lighting, water and sanitary services. There is a very urgent need for this problem to be tackled firmly and vigorously, and from a humanitarian point of view the sooner the scheme is well in progress the better it will be for the people concerned. s Experiments are suggested in, the-direc-tion of communal services by the supply of hot water from a central station to 'the housing areas, and the setting up of washing establishments, both, of which would be a priceless boon to the workers. It is also proposed to give sites for communal institutes, clubs, open spaces, plav-grounds and other conveniences to relieve the pressure on the house spiilce. Nor are the rural workers to be forgotten, as the improvement of their conditions of life is also to be taken in hand. It is an endless source of wonder to those who take an interest in social problems how, with the knowledge of the evils that surround the housing of the workers in Britain, the New Zealand authorities should have allowed this highly favorM country to drift into a similar groove. "God's Own Country" it is often called, yet there are slums and tenements unfit for habitation, insanitary. conditions, and all the worst forms of congestion that have cried aloud so long in the - Old Country for reform, are present in the chief centres as well as in several of the larger t-OAvns. There is also a great shortage of houses for the workers of all grades, and the need-for sanitary conveniences and conditions has been strikingly evidenced during the recent epidemic. The example ■ set by the British authorities i should be followed in the Domin-

ion as soon as possible. The Government has done a little in this direction already, and as it is hopeless to expect the local bodies to take a hand, it would be a good move to establish a Housing Department as part of the administrative activities of the State, and infuse the same life and vigor that Mr Lloyd George is showing over the social questions in Britain. There is no difficulty in solving this problem if the right means are adopted.