The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1936. STATE HOUSING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH AND INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1936. STATE HOUSING.

For the cause that lack." assi-tia/nce, For the ivrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we cam do.

Preparations for tlio Government's housebuilding campaign arc reported to be in full swing. State joinery factories are being opened, and yesterday the Prime Minister announced the appointment of Mr. A. lyndall as director of housing construction. But the necessary legislation has not been introduced. Parliament was informed in the Budget Statement that the Government proposed to build 5000 houses at a cost of approximately £3,000,000, and that it hoped that 900 houses would have been erected before the end of the financial year, but a great deal more information than this is needed, and it should be supplied for full. discussion before the plans are too far advanced.

There :s a serious shortage of houses in New Zealand, but to some extent it is being overtaken by private construction. Private enterprise, however, has not in recent years done much to build houses of the type suitable for low-wage workers, to whose needs the Government cannot be indifferent. In this lies the justification of a State housing scheme, but in this also lie its difficulties. The cost of the houses built must be low enough to permit the people for whose occupation they are intended to move into them with confidence that they can meet, and continue to meet, the interest or rent payments. More than this, they should. be able to meet the payments without reducing their standard of living. Experience in England shows that this consideration is important. The health of former slum-dwellers actually became worse after they had been removed to modern healthy homes, and it was found that in order to meet their rent payments they were spending less money on food, and perforce obtaining food inferior to that to which they had been accustomed

Bearing in mind this vital question of cost, where and how should the Government begin? Should it draw up a comprehensive scheme embracing the cities and provincial towns, or should a start be made on a modestscale, and the. general plan be developed or modified in the light of experience? Probably the latter course will commend itself to the Director of Housing. Although he has wide experience in other forms of construction, he has no detailed knowledge of housing, and prudence will suggest that practical knowledge as to types, costs and localities should be obtained before venturing on too large a scale. Provided this method of procedure is followed Mr. Tyndall should have a reasonable prospect of making a success in this new field. He will bring to the task organising ability, a practical mind, energy and the gift of seeing problems from a national viewpoint, and his freedom from preconceived ideas may be an advantage rather than a handicap. Not the least of his, difficulties may be the finding of an adequate number of efficient Construction workers. The demand for their services now is exceedingly been, and the additional demand by the State may raise serious problems, both for private enterprise and for the director of housing. The Government should encourage a full discussion of all aspects of its scheme.