PROBLEM OF HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 271, 10 August 1920, Page 6

PROBLEM OF HOUSING

PBOGRESS LEAGUE'S PKOPOSAL.

The housing question was referred to at. last nighf s meeting of the Central Progress League, when the executive reported that there was little hope of the Government Department solving tho problem so long as it was carried on under its present constitution. The executive was still of tho opinion that tho suggestions it made previously were necessary, namely: (1) Appoint a temporary Ministry of Housing; (2) stop all non-essential building; (3) stop the export of building timbers until the Dominion's own requirements are satisfied; (4) concentrate all material and labour on tho building of homes for the people. The chairman (Mr. W. H. Field, M.P.) mentioned that the Government was considering the adoption of a contrivance largely in use in America and Australia known as tho cement gun. He understood that the use of this mechanism speeded up building very considerably. Mr. G. Mitchell, M.P., the organiser of the league, expressed the opinion that sufficient public interest had been aroused in the question to ensure a comparatively early solution of the problem.

In the course of a general discussion, Mr. L, M'Kenzie advocated larger allocations by way of loan to the municipalities, while Mr. A. Stuart Wilson lamented the fact that the Government had killed speculative building. Tho chairman urged that the Government bo prevailed upon to acquire land for housing on either side of both railway lines, within easy access of the city. Greater co-ordination "between the various Government Departments was also urged by several speakers. The upshot of further discussion was the adoption of the following motion:— "That a deputation from the league wait upon the Prime Minister for the purpose of urging him to acquire lands adjacent to the railways, and in the vicinltv of cities, so as to provide cheap building sites, which, with cheap transit, will help to solve the housing problem." It was also decided to recommend the Government to appoint a temporary Ministry of Housing, and to grant larger sums of money to local authorities for house-building purposes.