Student search for homes now desperate

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 1

Student search for homes now desperate

Students arriving in Christchurch for university enrolment are having to sleep in cars or tents because they can find nowhere to live.

More than 1000 students are still looking for flats and many first-year students are arriving in the city without any hope of a place to live, according to the president of the University of Canterbury Students’ Association (Mr P. F. Dunne).

He said that the Students’ Union building would provide emergency accommodation, but health regulations meant that this could be only for a short time. Other students were lucky enough to bed down at a friend’s home.

An example of the distances to which those lucky enough to find a flat were forced to travel was revealed yesterday: S4O a week for a 3-bedroom unfurnished flat 10 miles from the university.

The vice-chancellor of the university (Professor N. C. Phillips) told the university council of the shortage yesterday. The chairman of the Waimairi County Council (Mr D. B. Rich) and the Mayor of Christchurch (Mt H G. Hav) said that they were both concerned at the accommodation problem. Mr Rich urged the university council to set up a

committee to investigate the problem. But no action has been taken by the university council in response to Mr Rich’s suggestion. Mr Hay said later that the Christchurch City Council was most concerned about the accommodation shortage, and he appealed to any residents with suitable accommodation available to offer it through the university’s accommodation officers. “It is quite apparent that the situation is becoming desperate.” he said. “The shortage of accommodation generally in Christchurch is serious, and the council is most conscious of this. We are endeavouring to construct sufficient rental accommodation to meet the demand.

“Although an immediate solution is not possible, the long term position will undoubtedly improve as several projects at present under consideration will be nearing completion in a year o> two.” he said.

The coming veat would be a critical one for the accommodation of students, and private board could ease the shortage.