DRIFT TO THE NORTH

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25810, 23 May 1949, Page 6

DRIFT TO THE NORTH

THEORY OF MAYOR OF TIMARU “ HOUSING ALLOCATION IS THE KEY ” From Our Own Reporter TIMARU, May 20. “These are startling figures which give the key to the drift from the South Island tc tse North,” said the Mayor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) this afternoon, commenting on the housing statistics for the whole of New Zealand, which the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) had supplied to him. The statistics showed that of 14.952 State houses built in New Zealand between -April 1,. 1944. and March 31. 1949, a total of 11.984 were built in the North Island and 2968 in the South. Units under construction in the North Island totalled 2704, w.ith 883 in the South Island. For the current year, the State proposed to build 3450 houses in the North Island and 1050 in the South. “These figures will open the eyes of South Islanders.’ said Mr Hanan. “Admittedly the North Island has double our population, but how that can justify the building of four times as many houses is more than I can tell. I have for a long time been concerned about the drift of population from the South to the North. I no longer have to look for the cause. The North Island has the houses. Many South Island towns have been crying out for industries, but it is always the same old trouble—no labour and no houses, problems which are inextricably interwoven.” said Mr Hanan. “Had the Government adopted, a fair-minded policy in the allocation of its houses, even on a population basis about which there could be no objection. we would have so many more houses to-day that we would be able to attract more workers and support those much sought after industries. For many years I have said, that the development of New Zealand has been lopsided and the present Government is perpetuating that trend. It has to be agreed that Christchurch has been well catered for with new homes .and industries, hut the .rest of the South Island has had a raw deal. • Unless there is a change in the outlook of our administrators, and South Islanders can help promote this movement, the position is not likely to improve,” he said. Mr Hanan said that. Timaru had received a “raw deal” in State housirfg. He had been informed that 33 houses were being built, while there were 641 applicants for houses, including 180 returned servicemen.