DILAPIDATED HOUSES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 6

DILAPIDATED HOUSES

DANGER OF RELETTING COUNCIL TO CO-OPERATE WITH GOVERNMENT The Government has bought 15 houses in Christchurch to provide homes for persons formerly living in sub-standard houses, and in a letter to the Christchurch City Council the State Advances Corporation points to the danger that when these dilapidated houses are vacated they may be let again to large families on small incomes who are hard put to it to find accommodation of any sort. “We would appreciate your cooperation in this matter and suggest that we advise you of any case where, in the opinion of our officer, the dwelling to be vacated is not in a fit state for human habitation, in order that your health inspector may take whatever steps may be possible within the by-laws either to have the dwelling condemned or put into a reasonable state of repair to comply with ordinary living standards,” states the letter. “If something along these lines is not done, we are likely, to have recurring cases of this description in respect of the same property and we desire to avoid this if possible.” On the motion of the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) the council thanked the corporation and gave an assurance that steps would be taken to see that such houses were put into repair or they would be condemned.