PARLIAMENT High-Density Housing Seen As Urgent Need

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 12

PARLIAMENT High-Density Housing Seen As Urgent Need

"The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON, Oct. 6. Multi-storey accommodation in the central areas of cities to help house the rapidly expanding population and to combat urban sprawl was suggested by Mr H. Watt (Opposition, Onehunga) in the House of Representatives today. He was speaking in the debate on the housing construction estimates. There was nothing in the estimates for multistorey accommodation although it had been promised by the National Party at election time, he said. “We have areas in the four main centres that should be developed to a far higher density,” said Mr Watt. He asked the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) to set aside a portion of the housing vote annually for development of central city areas. Local authorities could not do it alone. Central development for housing would save money for the whole country by cutting the use of productive land for housing.

Mr W. A. Fraser (Opposition, St. Kilda) said the Government was “slashing" the vote for land purchase and development from £3,200,000 spent last year to £2.800,000 estimated this year—at a time when New Zealand’s population was growing at proportionately faster than that of the United States.

Every six months New Zealand’s population was increasing by the equivalent of a city the size of Timaru, in a year by a eity equivalent to Hutt. The country’s labour force would grow by 300.000 in eight years, said Mr Fraser Mr W. W. Freer (Opposition. Mount Albert) said that ft was ludicrous to express concern over urban sprawi. while the State, under both Governments, was responsible for much urbrn sprawl. “The tendency in the next

few years will be for people to realise the fallacy of living miles and miles out and facing the expense of travelling to and fro and spending two hours daily doing so,” said Mr Freer. Mr Johnstone (Government, Waipa) said: “Multistorey flats sound very good. It’s got to come but it can’t come all at once. The cost is terrific. One room for a nurse costs as much as a house.

“There is something in the argument that land is taken out of production by lowdensity housing . but if the householder is willing to work on his quarter of fifthacre. there will be more production than in its previous use.” said Mr Johnstone. Mr Rae said more than half the Government’s building programme was for multi-storey housing but not high-density housing. “When you have highdensity housing you have to

put in services like lifts and that steps up costs,” he said. Mr M. A. Connelly (Opposition, Riccarton) said the Government’s “tenant squeeze” meant less housing, less technical staff in the Housing Division, fewer sections, ?nd a rise in interest rates that would put home ownership beyond many.

Mr H. J. Walker (Government, St. Albans) congratulated the Government on its slum clearance scheme. “Money is available for any local body that wants to go ahead and help their local residents,” he said.

Mr A. J. Faulkner (Opposition, Roskill) said that State house construction was the cornerstone of the welfare society, for housing created a demand for every kind of goods and service on' which full employment and development rested.

Mr Rae denied the government was cutting down numbers of technical staff in the Housing Division. "The staff had Veen cut down because they have been poached by outside firms after we train them. I hope we will be able to replace them soon.” Mr Rae said