HOUSING CONDITIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1919, Page 6

HOUSING CONDITIONS.

"SCANDALOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS." RETORT OF CHARITABLE AID COMMITTEE. A vigorous discussion on the matter of housing accommodation in Wellington took place at Thursday's meeting of the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard, following upon a report received from the Charitable Aid Committee.

The committee reported as follows: 'The insufficiency of housing accommodation is being continually forced upon our attention in the course of our Work, and we subjoin two examples by way of illustration: (1) Rent 21s per week; dwelling, two-roomed whare, liv-ing-room about 12ft. by 10ft. j domestic appliances, gas stove and sink in the room; no wash-house nor washing appliances, bath or scullery; sleeping room about 10ft. by 10ft., with upper and lower bunks and 2ft. Gin stretcher. Occupants: Father (confined to bed by serious illness), motherland four children (two boys and two girls, aged ranging from fourteen years to two years) ; a fifth child is sent out to sleep. It is not surprising that the mother is suffering from debility and inortia. (2) Kent, not stated; dwelling, one room under 14ft. square. Occupants: Father, mother, ftnd five children, ranging in ages from twelve years to two years. The committee fails to conceive how the social outlook can be contemplated with any complaisance while such conditions as are indicated by the above cases remain in existence.

"Wo have evidence that there is a crying need for improvement of the conditions under which some of our people have to live," remarked Mr. G. J. Petherick, chairman of the committee. "The committee does not propose to pay the 21s rent for this place mentioned in the report, 'but we are making further invesligations. Wc are trying to have this thing altered." Mr. Pctheriek added that tho committee was continually coming into touch with cases of the kind referred to in the report of the' committee, and there was an urgent need for. an improvement in the present conditions. NO ASSISTANCE FROM GOVERNMENT. Mr. J. Hutchison thought the committee was to be commended for the way in which it had handled the subject. jThis is an absolute scandal," he said, "and I don't thing this is an isolated case. The Government are not giving any assistance. They are throwing the matter back on the municipal bodies. This body will have to give information to the city corporation concerning the scandalous state of affairs." Mr. Hutchison considered that the name of the landlord who charged the rent of 21s should be published. Mr. C. H. Chapman moved that the matter be brought under the. notice of the City Council and tho Minister of Internal Affairs. "I understand this 21s wharc is in Lyall Bay, one of our modern suburbs," said Mr. Chapman. "Wc could undoubtedly find other cases equally as bad, and within five minutes' walk of thig room. There are numerous cases of overcrowding in the city, and if the people only knew about them they would insist on an alteration being made in the conditions."

Mrs, Snow seconded Mr. Chapman's resolution. "They talk about morals," she remarked. "How can any family be brought up morally under such conditions? It is time all public hoards took a firm standing on this; housing question and insisted on the municipalities and the Government doing something in the matter. It is an absolute scandal to New Zealand."

Mrs. Beck said that until a sufficient number of houses were erected thev would have overcrowding, nnd they should set to work at once to urge the authorities to take immediate action Each week the Charitable Aid Committee was compelled to pay excessive rents for wretched hovels.

The chairmnn of the meeting, Mr. J. W. McEwan, entirely endorsed what had been said. In one portion of Tc Aro flat, ha said, there were 280 people living on an acre of land. "Considering tho condition of the houses, if that is not an excellent breeding-ground for tuberculosis I don't know what is," he remarked. "Just how to push the Government along quickly in the matter is one of the difficulties that presents itself, as I have found in tackling the Government in another capacity. The Government apparently desires to 'g<t Blow' in tho matter."

Voices: They are going very slow. COST OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

Mr. McEwan added that the Government was looking forward to the time when the price- of building material would go down. "There will be no very material reduction in the price of material for some years to come," said Mr. McEwan. "As for wages coming down, to my mind that is an absurd expectation."

Mrs. Aitken thought that tenants who «üb-let rooms were equally responsible with landlords for charging high rents. Rooms were hard to get. and as much as 30a per week was being charged for one room in which to live and have meals. She herself had received notice to quit her premises, and had a fortnight in which to' leave, but she could not find another place. . "I was hoping that we' Would have some reduction in ftur elmritaMo aid expenditure," said Mr. Pettier:*, «lmt while tins sort of thing is going oa it is absolute y impossible to obtain auy reauction." .',:■•, . ■ ■ Mrs. Aitken: Those who are sub-letting , houses liave something to answer for; lanEr T " oy W ° rß6 thßn the

, Th f . re P°, rt ot tto committee • was carried P>«pman's motion was