DUNEDIN SLUMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 127, 1 June 1939, Page 13

DUNEDIN SLUMS.

MINISTER'S CHARGE.

" GROSSLY EXAGGERATED."

THE MAYOR BITS BACK.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DUXEDINT, this day

Statements made by the Hon. H. T. Armstrong in Christchurch concerning Dunedin's slums are described as grossly exaggerated and a slur on the city.

The Mayor, Mr. A. H. Allen, said to-day that at the Government's request : a very extensive survey of dwellings in the older portion of the city was made, and the result forwarded to Wellington. So far nothing further in the matter had been done by the Government. "It must be' remembered." said the Mayor, "that people living in the houses complained of do so because they are unable to pay higher rent*. The homes now being erected by the Government are beyond the nieans of these people on account of the high rentals lieing asked by the Government, the rentals averaging 27/t> a week, to which jnust be added the maximum tram fares to those outlying parts of the city whore the houses are situated. It would be pleasing to hear from the Minister that the Governmerit is* prepared to erect cheaper dwellings, which would 1«? available to those people now living in the houses he condemns, and at a rental which these people would be able to pay. Some progress would then be possible in connection with the demolition of very old dwellings.''

Architect's Views. Mr. ,T. L. Salmond, vice-president of the Dtiucdin Amenities Society and a well-known architect, also referred to the fact that the Government housing scheme did not make provision for such people as those to which the Minister referred. If accommodation was to be found for them it would have to be such as to come within their very limited means, and no scheme so far put into operation meets that contingency. The present Government scheme, while making it almost 5m possible for private interests to buiid homes for letting purposes, did not cover the needs of th» poorer citizens. The Government had taken over the responsibility of providing homes for the poople, and it was for the Minister to co/ne along and say that the job was pot being done by others. Unless the Government or municipality was going to oay the difference between the actual re.it value and the rate which the poorer people were able to afford, there was no possibility of the present schemes meeting the case or of homes with proper hygiene and other conditions being provide**!.