HOUSING PROBLEMS REVIEWED

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28417, 25 October 1957, Page 21

HOUSING PROBLEMS REVIEWED

Building Society’s Report

Adequate housing was as important to the community as to the individual; but property values and costs, as well as tenancy restrictions, had made it unprofitable for private landlords to buy or build homes for letting, said the chairman of directors (Mr A. S. Taylor) at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Building and Land Society yesterday morning. The result was that it had become still more difficult for intending tenants to find suitable places to rent. Flats were not very satisfactory for young families and, in any case, many of the rents were beyond the means of such people, Mr Taylor said. He also thought that many young people were getting married without first making reasonable preparation in saving for a deposit on a home and for the purchase of furniture. The Government group housing scheme had been introduced to assist, but in many cases the deposits required were still too high for these young people. Land sub-divisions were going still farther afield and thus aggravating the difficulties and the costs of transport, water, power, and drainage. . Miss Nancy Northcroft, the Regional Planning Officer, had warned of the consequences. Mr Taylor said there was no doubt whatever that many more people could be accommodated within the area already served by public utilities.