THE HOUSING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 135, 3 March 1922, Page 6

THE HOUSING PROBLEM

THE DORLONCO SYSTEM EXPERIMENT PROPOSED AT MIRAMAR The housing problem was discussed at some length by the City Council last evening, and it was decided to encourage an experiment which it was hoped may tend to solve the house shortage. The Public Health Committee reported that they had considered a request from the Public Works Department with regard to a proposal for the erection of three pairs of semi-detached buildings at Miramar under the Dorlonco system of house construction, as an experiment. The Department asked that the requirements of tho by-law regarding; the height of buildings should be waived in the present instance, to allow of the rooms being eight feet in height instead of nine feet. It was considered that the construction of buildings under this system would tend to considerably cheapen the cost. Tho committee had left the matter in tho hands of the city engineer, with an expression of opinion that approval should be given to the present application ; but that if it was possible for the height of the rooms to be increased io Bft. 6in. this should be done; also that if it was intended to construct a largo number of such buildings, no greater number than two dwellings in one block should be built. Councillor Fraser said that he objected to the height of tho studs being reduced below 9ft., and he would oppose the adoption of the committee’s recommendation. He sympathised with the committee in its endeavour to co-oper-ate with the company that was to build the houses for tho Department. He realised it was an experiment, but ho could not imagine that such a big company had not the plant to manu faciure 9ft. studs. Councillor H. D. Bennett said that the committee was just as strongly opposed to tho reduction in the height of the studs as Councillor Fraser, and had endeavoured to get over that difficulty. The committee, however, welcomed any proposal of any sort that would provide decent houses for the people. The Government was coming down with a fairly scheme —the building of a set of three cottages to a standard — and it was negotiating with the company that was turning them out. It occtirred to the committee that any endeavour to block the Government on the Bft. stud question would be an endeavour to block one of the most serious needs of the present time. They saw in this scheme some little hope of dealing with the housing question. The committee had not ‘banged the door.” but had left the matter in the hands of the city engineer, with definite instructions to raise the stud if possible to 9ft. or Bft. 6in. He pointed out that now electricity was in such general use for lighting purposes instead of gas high rooms ware not so necessary. Taking everything into consideration, the committee had agreed if necessary to waive the regulations in connection with the first three houses. The council could view these on completion and come to a decision regarding further similar houses. Councillor Chapman said that there had been a decided tendency to lower the standard of workers’ dwellings since the war. Previously they were a credit to the city. The houses were first made smaller, and now it was proposed to reduce the air space still further. Because the Imperial Government had allowed small “dog boxes there was no need why it should be done here, for there was plenty of space in this country. He was pleased the City Council did not sacrifice everything to cheapness in the houses it had built. , Councillor M. L Vickie said ’that it was a singular thing that Labour members were always crying out for housing accommodation for the people, and when something that would give effect to their purpose was proposed thev opposed it over a small thing like" the height of the stud—six inches lower than the by-laws. They had the assurance of the council this was only going to apply to the first three buildings, and here they were opposing a scheme that would get the peoplo out of the slums. They had only to look at some of the places people had to live in, and surely they would agree that the proposal before the council was much preferable. Councillor Norwood said that high ceilings were not necessary nowadays. When the first houses were completed then they could have them examined and future buildings altered. Councillor McKenzie though that if thev granted permission to the Public Works Department to erect houses with Bft. 6in. studs they would have to grant the same privilege to private firms.

Councillor J. Burns said that in view of the housing problem he would support tho proposal. The Mayor was in favour of the clause. He said there were scores and scores of peoplo living under conditions that these houses would bo a palace to. In one room there were whole families. What was the use of building houses for people like those at Miramar, for £ll5O was far too much for a working man to pay. The proposal was only an experiment, and if it was favourable and the houses healthy, and habitable, then private individuals could not be stopped from erecting similar structures. A proposal that the clause referred back to the committee, and they be asked to confer with the Government was rejected. Tho report was adopted.