HOMES UNFIT FOR USE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22768, 21 July 1939, Page 6

HOMES UNFIT FOR USE

CONDITIONS IN CITIES HOUSING SURVEY v DISCLOSURES 21,697 UNSATISFACTORY RESIDENCES f“lt cannot be denied that there are very many single-family dwell-ing-houses throughout New Zealand which do not measure up to the physical standards laid down by the Government,” said Mr A. H. Bridge, city land surveyor, when explaining to members of the Sanitary Institute last evening provisions of the new standard code of by-laws for residential buildings. Mr Bridge said that figures released recently, based on the Dominion housing survey, showed that in 90 towns more than 3600 residences were unfit for habitation.

“But it is when we turn to apartment houses that we are face to face with the real problem,” Mr Bridge said. ‘ 1

“Tn one city in the Dominion the housing survey revealed that 13,740 persons were living in unsatisfactory or overcrowded apartment houses. One' apartment house which I recently contained some 12 bed-sitting-rooms; the kitchenettes were cupboards opening on to passages, and bathrooms and conveniences were few and far between. This apartment house was occupied by persons of both sexes. In another, tie gas stoves were set in the passages. In another, the sinks have no waste pipes, buckets being used to carrv away waste water, the idea no doubt being to keep down the excess water rate. In this particular case, an old stable had some rooms built inside it for letting purposes, the bathroom and convenience being in the main house adjoining. “Crowded Kitchens”

“Many examples could be given where six or more gas stoves are set in one kitchen, the various occupants doing their cooking cheek by jowl. In others the rooms are very small with no proper ventilation or light. But you all probably know many of these places as well as I do. It may be admitted that there is little inclination on the part of people in New Zealand to overcrowd, but there is an inclination to reside as close to the centre bf the city as possible. Again, the fact that the number of new houses erected during the slump dropped far below normal requirements has had its effect on present-day conditions. Altered Buildings

“There is no disputing the fact that the demand for flats, apartment houses, and rooms is at the present time very insistent. Many apartment houses,, while classed as unsatisfactory, are well run; while others are wholly occupied by tenants with no on© responsible for the care of conveniences, bathrooms, common passages, etc. Generally speaking, the unsatisfactory conditions are found in residential buildings which have had a few alterations made to enable them to be let in separate rooms. “As already stated, the undesirable conditions which Wave developed and been disclosed by the housing survey, have moved the Government to have prepared model clauses governing the erection, conversion,, and use of all residential buildings. Comments on the model clauses are now being considered,: and It is understood that they will be duly issued for the guidance of local authorities, the ultimate object being to make them mandatory after, say, a 12 months’ trial, when any weaknesses which reveal themselves can be rectified.

Survey Results "Figures recently released state that the housing survey revealed that in DO towns' there were 21,697 residential buildings which were classed as unsatisfactory, while there were 3635 such buildings unfit for human habitation. In addition the surplus population in these buildings amounted to 50,685. The total survey of these 90 towns covered 163,000 residential buildings. “From my own personal knowledge,’’ Mr Bridge said, "I can state that a tremendous amount of time and thought has been given to the preparation of this proposed by-law. There is no doubt but that the committee of the Standards Institute, responsible for this code, will have received plenty of criticism and suggestions for amendments, and I am quite confident that all the constructive criticism received will be carefully weighed with an unbiased mind, and amendments adopted where improvement will result.” Mr Bridge explained the retailed clauses of the code, which has already been summarised in “The Press.”