THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1919, Page 3

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

STATESMANLIKE PROPOSALS.

INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

(Special to the News)

Wellington, August 29. The Industries Committee reports on the housing problem as follows: The unprecedented shortage of suitable houses throughout the Dominion is a pressing difficulty in town and country, alike and the evidence given before the Committee proves that the evil is greater and more serious than is generally supposed, and is likely to become more acute in the near future.

Although a modicum of effort has been made by the State to give facilities to people of moderate means to purchase homes 1 of their own, the quantity of work actually done has not been sufficient to materially improve the situation.

Hitherto the supply of houses has been left almost entirely to private enterprise, but we have reached a stage at which the housing problem is much too acute to be longer left entirely to that uncertai ■ source of supply, and the Committee recommend that a comprehensive scheme of housing construction be undertaken on the following lines: — Brick, concrete, or other durable materia! to be used wherever possible, except in eases where it is probable that the sites will be required for other purposes within a period of 35 or 40 years, or in industries such as coal mines that may be worked out within a limited time. Consideration of economy should not be permitted to bring the dwellings below a reasonable minimum standard of accommodation, attractiveness, of design, sanitation and conveniences. , A National Housing Department should be set up, to be under the control of a Minister of the Crown and administered by a Commissioner, and two associate commissioners, who should be men of business experience with a knowledge of the building trade. Power should be giverf to acquire land and buildings compulsorily, to purchase land, make roads, acquire and carry on sawmills and joinery works; to purchase and import supplies, purchase plant, manufacture articles required for the dwellings, etc.; in short, the Commissioners should have wide powers to push on vigorously and in a business-like way the work of providing the much-needed houses. This would involve the vesting in the Housing Department under the Commissioners the powers at present exercised bv the Workers' Dwellings branch of 'the Labor Department. The necessity for a progressive housing scheme on national lines is so pronounced raid calls for such vigorous execution that the machinery of any existing Department could not' reasonably be expected to cope with themAmple funds must be provided and the committee recommend that an amount up to £2,000,000 be made available, to be drawn on by tho Commissioners as required, and to be supplied to them at 4 per cent, interest, the difference between this rate and the rate which the Government pays for the money, together with the cost of administration "of the Department, to be borac by the State. The sum indicated will provide about 3000 additional houses, accommodating perhaps Hf.,000 people, which v,;' to some remove the erusliiii" disabilities at present existing. The houses provided under ih ( national scheme shall be available for preference to men having incomes belr.w £:S00. with an additional allowance of £25 Tier chiid over three in number. Where the houses are let, the rental basis should be :") per cent., plus rates. In the cases of houses sold, the selling price should '>■ the actual cost, plus overhead charges. Liberal terms should be given,' on a five per cent, interest basis. Whore possible the houses should be erected in num bers of 10 or more; sufficient land should be provided, wher possible, for a garden, and trams, railways, or other' quick means of transit should be an important factor.

The Committee further recommend that local bodies, including barber board-., bo empowered, in con [unci ion with the Plate, to initiate and carry into ell'cet. local housing schemes. Where building schemes are considered ilc-ir-able or necessary within (lie jnris(!iction of any local body such local body sliaH he empowered' to .frame such schemes in consultation wilh the Commissioners and, if approved liv them, the necessary capital shall be advanced at four per cent, interest. The Commissioners are to be vested with power to investigate building schemes submitted bv local authorities. Financial nrovisions are set. out, and (he wccklv rent is fixed at the rate of five per cent, on Ihe cost of land and building, pins the weeklv proportion of annual'rates. Everv occupier shall have (he option of purchasing the property occupied by him at no greater price than will secure the local bodies against loss.

It is also recommended that the <"iov ornmont shall lend moneys to approved companies, employers, and farmers under stated conditions. In this ca.v the rent is to he based on five per cent, on the cost of the building only, the borrower to'bear the loss of maintenance, rates etc.

As the scheme is intended to overcome the financial difficulties which in the past have, often rendered the farmer helpless to improve the housing accommodation of his employees, the State must insist that a decent, standard of housing should he available to all rural workers.'

The Committee are of opinion that the higißlation governing advances to work-ens requires considerofe wideniim and recommend— "

(a) That the maximum amount of loan that may he advanced he raised to £750 for the purpose of erecting a now bnilding, and to ■■CiiOO for the purchase of an existing building. (h) That these advances be made to workers whose incomes are not more than £3OO per annum, wnh an addition of £25 for enc-h child over three in number.

The Committee recommend that stringent regulations he drafted to prevent as far as possible, profit-making bv Ihe sale of houses erected under this scheme, and also to provide that in the event oi any sale the purchaser must be a worker whose income is within the limitation. In making these recommendations, involving as they do considerable capital cost to the Slate, the committee have in mind the fact that much of the present, distressing industrial unrest is due to the shortage of houses. They feel confident that the proper housing of the people will do much to produce contentment, and the consequent more settled industrial conditions, which will more than warrant the cost. As the increased cost of building under present conditions is directly attributable to the war, the amount involved should be regarded as | part of the cost of the war. "

The Committee emphasise tie national necessity of this matter being promptly dealt with.