HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 187, 4 May 1920, Page 7

HOUSING

Sir,—May I. refer to your leader of yesterday ? No doubt there is a shortage of; houses in: Wellington, but are the figures I supplied to-the. public in. any way reli-. able? When the 'specially planned town-' planned at Miramar is'' completed, and counting only the num- ] bcr of houses already arranged for, will ; there not be a surplus. of this class of house ?' Whilst so, nevertheless there. will still be an insufficient number of; better homes amidst nice surroundings. It' is tliose who require this better-class' house who are not catered for. But eveu ' if, tlio .requirements in workers' and' other Homes Jbe taken together, between, 500 and 600 rafter than HfiO is much nearer the present necessity of the Wei-' Hngton residential' area. Because throe families are, living in one building, it does' not necessarily mean that there ar9 two houses short, nor are twelve extra houses wanted -because twelve singlo people occupy twelve single rooms in one' house.• But this seems to-be the- method of calculating the shortage. There are many who live after the foregoing manner from choice, especially young women. As a small community under one roof there is a sense of better security. Friendships often result from the frequent meeting of each other, there is little ■bouse work, and one can como and go as a free lance. Since these do not want cottages, then why build them? But as the requirement in single rooms and .two rooms "en suite" is much below the demand, provision should be made for this class of city dweller. In this connection flats are a necessity. They should be ensconced in n fireproof building. This should be of several stories so as to minimise ground rent, lie replete with passenger, food and garbage lifts, etc., built on'a sunny site, and near the business area of the city. In order to enable oilier than workers to build houses, tho advance under the Government Advances to Settlers should lie £1500 to, .£1(500 in lieu of'the present £1000, in'any case when'for -new buildings, so as; in some measure-to meet the present.cost of building. The advance should be ninetenths instead of the present three-fifths of the total value, thus enabling the borrowing of £1350 on a £1500 security. This would assist many to build who possess but £150, while few can put up' £600, which is, the interest required of tho borrower-, of £900 on a .£ISOO security under tho three-fifths advance. These terms cannot compare in liberality with the ten pound margin required of the worker.—l am etc., '"" •B. W. de MONTALK. F.N.Z.I.A.