HOUSING SUGGESTIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 134, 8 June 1944, Page 4

HOUSING SUGGESTIONS

There are four kinds of slum. One is the old leaky shack, insanitary and crowded among its fellows. Another is 'the good home into which, in a moment of sympathy, other families are admitted till they jostle one another in the only kitchen or parlour get on one another's nerves, and quarrel. The third is the prefabricated slum for urgent needs to last a few years, which Mr. Fletcher condemned because it would cost £1000 (!) Finally there is the smart little three-roomed slum the Public Works Department used to prefabricate on a small section down Fanshawe Street, for married couple (and family) working on a farm. This cost the Government £70 and was let out at a rent of 5/ per week. It was solidly built of dressed timber and was said to have a 30 years' life. The walls were 6ft high, but the ceiling, following up the line of the roof, added to the height of the rooms. If built a little larger (say, to cost £20C) and let to one family in each case, I do not think anybody would go crasf in it. It astonishes me that local bodies do not get this class of dwelling designed, built and distributed in thousands without reference to their bv-laws or the Government. I think 1000 could be established and roaded in a few months on the golf links on the tramway route at Point Chevalier. ARTHUR SAINSBURY.