CORRESPONDENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

HOUSING PROBLEM—ITS SOLUTION. To the Editor. Sir,—Tha paragraph in your paper headed "Shortage of Houses,"' and the suggestions therein, are good. If it is good to meet the difficulty of the shortage of accommodation during the summer months, should it not be also good for meeting present needs of living until more permanent buildings can be erected in the future? Your suggestions recall memories of tli© gold-mining on the west coast of the South Island. I recollect the transfer of a whole mining community of about 9000 people in a few weeks from tlie Grey to Charleston in the year 1867. The discovery of the rich black sand,' and beach leads caused a great TU3h, Charleston within a month or two had a population of about 10,000 people, housed under canvas—canvas hotels, casinos, banks, theatres and dwellings. The climate of Charleston is very similar to that of New Plymouth. The people of the present day have the grit and Initiative. What Is wanting is the opportunity and access to the land on which to erect dwellings, as on the! goldfield. This might bo given in" the form of short leases under certain specified conditions at a nominal price on the vacant lands of our harbor board or borough council. Water and sanitary accommodation could be provided, and a marquee restaurant and cooking accommodation might also be provided. New Plymouth has an opportunity of attracting population and labor for industrial development if sufficiently enterprising to grasp it. If the idea is good it is only so when put into practice.—l am, etc., C. D. LIGHTBAND. Currle Street, New Plymouth.