DAMAGE TO STATE HOUSES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24743, 7 December 1945, Page 6

DAMAGE TO STATE HOUSES

—-♦ CONSTRUCTION WORK SET BACK CRITICISM BY~MR SEMPLE (From Cur Parliamentary Reporter) -. . . WELLINGTON, Dec. 6. houses m course of erection are suffering badly, in some localities * n\Jh% tyf* of u van A al s. Instances quoted to-day by the Minister .in Construction (the Jion. K. Semple) indicated a surprising amount of irresponsibility. 8 Mr Semple described adults who were guilty of such conduct as being criminally minded, and said that such damage, and also the thieving that was taking place were particularly disheartening when every effort was being made to build homes, particularly for returned servicemen, and when it necessary to scratch for materials Mr Semple. said that attention had Been drawn m recent months to the wanton destruction caused to property belonging to local bodies and other organisations. The Housing Construction LJepartment was likewise a sufferer from irresponsible people. Recently a deputation of builders had waited on the Director of Housing (Mr G. W Albertson) and had complained bitterly about vandalism that was being petrated in Auckland. What they said also applied in Wellington and to a lesser extent in other places. _ The Minister said that in one case in Auckland a house that had just been handed over for occupancy was broken into and the front door, including the hinges, was removed. In another case the lavatory basin, plus all the taps in the bathroom, was removed. The contractor's shed in a further case was broken-into and a kit of tools worth about £3O and belonging to a "returned soldier was stolen.

Vandalism by Youngsters Mr Semple said he coulcfc cite many other cases. Those that he had quoted were typical examples of what was going on. "Youngsters," he added, "are also responsible for a considerable amount of vandalism. They go round and poke sticks through wallboards and ceiling materials, and the breaking of windows in State houses is quite a common occurrence. There have been scores, if not hundreds, of windows Broken in houses under construction th roughout the country. .. When mature people are doing things like this, particularly at a time when we are scratching for our lives •i_i get r as /5? an 'y homes built as possible for tiie returned boys in particular, such : conduct, to say the least of it, is criminal, it cannot be described m any other way. It is little wonder when grown people are committing such crimes that there is a tendency on the part of children to qo the same thing." /¥T Semple added that it seemed to him that some drastic action would have to be taken to stop such crimes being against. society by l irresponsible individuals: who had no ! respect or consideration for property welfare of other people. ' I