HOME FOR £620.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1920, Page 6

HOME FOR £620.

NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME. ' TO MEET HOUSING SHORTAGE. MAYOR APPROVES IDEA. With the overcrowded state of New Plymouth—from the point of view of housing the inhabitants—which has followed, as a natural sequence, the rapid growth of the town, a workable scheme for providing temporary residential accommodation is an urgent need. What appears to be a very likely solution emanates from Mr. G. W. Browne, an ex-Mayor of New Plymouth, by whom the accompanying plan has been drawn.

The designer estimates the cost at £620, the two constructions being convertible when opportunity arises into a bungalow or live-roomed house (thus serving a dual purpose), and coming from a man of Mr. Browne's experience, the proposal is well worthy of consideration.

Originating in the first place as the result of an article in the Daily News, the scheme is outlined by Mr. Browne in the following letter to the Editor:— "In response to your appeal re the housing que&tion, and the confirmation of the serious conditions the working people are at present obliged to exist in, no scheme having yet been brought forward that' would relieve the position at a cost that a worker can afford to entertain, I venture to submit plans of a cheap building that would house two families at a rental the worker can afford to pay, viz., las to 16s for the occupancy of three rooms, lined throughout, and fitted with cupboard, linen press, sink, etc. In addition, a wash-house containing copper and tubs are provided (0-ft studs). These buildings, if erected on or near the beach, need not to be loaded with the cost of land. "After serving the purpose of relieving congestion, they could be used for housing emigrants or seaside resorts for our Christmas visitors. You will observe the lay out ensures a perfect privacy for each occupant, and, after having served the present purpose can easily be converted into fiveroomed dwellings. Providing the materials are available (and they certainly ought to have preference), these buildings could be turned out at the rate of one or two a week."

MUNICIPAL ENDORSEMENT. When shown a copy of the plan, the Mayor (Mr. Jas. Clarke) expressed hearty approval of the suggestion. "It's one of the best I have seen," he said. Mr. Clarke agreed that there was plenty of scope in this direction, as a good deal of accommodation was required. Regarding the provision of land, he was of opinion that there were ft good number of odd Borough sections which the Council would proijably agree to lease to prospective builders, providing that there were sufficient bona fides tliat the lessee would proceed with the work. Regarding a suggestion that .some ten acres of land at Te Henui might be convenient for the erection of these homes, Mr, Clarke said it was a Native lease, which the Borough could ! devote to the purpose, ..and there was I room for ten or twelve buildings on the strip between the railway line and the sea. The question of access generally to these properties, however, would have to be settled, as there were no roads or footpaths. A difficulty which the Mayor forsees is the timber shortage, or which he could speak from personal knowledge. He expresses doubt as to whether a purchaser would be able to place an order with timber merchants for enough material to build a house. THE INSPECTOR'S VIEWS. "In my estimation it is a -very good suggestion," snid Inspector Day, "and one which would comply generally with the Borough by-laws and the rules of decent living." The Inspector proceeded to point out that any smaller appurtenances which did not exactly comply with the regulations would be of a temporary nature, and an understanding could be given to the Council that they would be altered when the need for the temporary accommodation was over. It is satisfactory to note that such an important feature has been kept in view.

Viewing the plan, the Inspector estimates that each division will be comfortable accommodation for a man and wife and three or four children; this opinion was given after reference to the amount of air space which will be afforded by rooms of the proposed dimensions. About thirty of these homes could be

taken up at the present time, according to Mr. Day's experience. He makes one or two suggestions of minor alterations which could be effected without added cost, and also believes that by providing for the occupants using a common doorway, extra room space could be made available inside. THE FUTURE. He was of opinion that the buildings were too good to be left on the beach, and made the suggestion that they be put on sections and built in such a way that each would subsequently be available as a six-roomed house having the minimum frontage as stipulated in the by-laws (namely 40 feet), and the area provided for by Statute (about an eighth of an acre). He had in mind a piece of ground that could be used for the purpose, and he thought it could be acquired at a price which would not make the total cost prohibitive. There were also other suitable sections.