LARGE FAMILIES LAST ?

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 155, 4 July 1938, Page 8

LARGE FAMILIES LAST ?

In these days statements and statistics regarding housing are usually made, and relate almost exclusively to houses constructed by, the Government. "Whether intentionally or inot, the impression being created is that, generally speaking, the State is doing [everything and private enterprise little or nothing. The impression is, of course, false, !bnt it should be removed by facts and figures. It ought not to be beyond the capacity of ibuilders' associations throughout the Dominion to collect and collate, and publish regularly, particulars of the building achievements of private enterprise. These particulars, when considered together with those of the State Housing Department, would enable accurate conclusions to be drawn regarding the progress made towards overtaking the housing shortage. In particular the statistics, if properly compiled, should show whether the new houses are of the size and price suitable for the class of people who deserve most consideration —the people with families. So far, the State has let contracts for 3668 houses, but only now, according to the Prime Minister's statement, are designs for larger houses "to accommodate families of unusual size" being considered. Surely these families deserved consideration prior to that given to families of "average size." which seems to mean families with two children, or one. The need of larger families was recognised by the Government when it built a house for the Johnson family after it was increased by quadruplets. This was a special case, because of the circumstances, but there are other families whose need is as great, or greater.