“NO SHORTAGE OF HOUSES”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 300, 15 September 1936, Page 10

“NO SHORTAGE OF HOUSES”

Lower Hutt Borough

GOVERNMENT SCHEME ATTACKED “Garden Suburb Not a Dumping Ground” While expressing sympathy with the Government in its efforts to solve the housing shortage problem in New Zealand, rhe Lower Hutt Borough Council, fit its meeting last night, made it plain that it wanted no "mass production" houses in the "garden suburb” of New Zealand:: and that there was, in fact, no housing shortage in Lower Hutt at all. Mainly on these grounds, and also on the ground that the Government had been rushed into its announced housing scheme without sufficient consideration, or the proper advice, the council refused to pass a motion pledging the council to co-operate with the Govern meat 1

The subject came up for discussion when a report was presented showing that out of 323 louses, with a population of 1344, in Alicetowu (the borough’s most congested area), only 23 were occupied by more than one family. The report stated that the average mumber: of persons in each of the 323 houses was only 4.1(5.

These facts caused Qy. W. A. F. Hall to say; "It is immoral for two. or more families'to live in one house.” Councillors: What!

"What I mean,’’ said Cr. Hall, "is that in my opinion every family should have a home of its own. Two families in one house is not a proper way to live. A national town-planning scheme has got to operate from one end of New Zealand to the other. Every municipality Should be prepared to give what assistance it can to the Housing Committee, set up by the present Government, ami find out bow many people want home’s. There will have to be a lot of pulling down in this borough, as well as building up."

The Mayor (Mr. J. W. Andrews): In Lower Hutt? . Cr. Hall: Yes. . The Mayor: Where? / . Cr. Halit. I can’t say off-hand, bnV alt over the place. The Mayor: That is a very sweeping statement to make.

Cr. Hall: If there are going to be any homes built they should be spread all over the show, not in one compound. Cr. I’. Douse: "The 'Government is ‘looking at the question from a different point of view to-what the Lower Hutt Borough Council is. The drift of population is out towards this Valley.” In* his opinion there was at least a shortage of 200 ho,uses in Lower Hutt. He moved a motion to the effect that the Council should co-oper-ate with the Government to give what advice and assistance it could in its ■housing scheme. Cr. Hall seconded the motion. No Shortage of Houses. The Mayor, referring to the fact of two families living in one house, said that perhaps a great many of the people did not desire to have houses of their own. “There is no overcrowding in Lower Hutt.” he continued. “There is no housing shortage here. The demand for new houses is chiefly fitom people coming into the borough, not from people already resident in it. It is undesirable that there should be mass production of houses in this garden suburb, and that is what is going to ‘ happen shortly, unless I am very much mistaken. I oppose that strongly,” The Mayor also stated that he had been unable to get a definite reply from the Minister in charge of housing, either personally, or by letter, to questions whether the Government was prepared to abide by the borough building by-laws, pay the building permits and sewer-connections, and guarantee the rates. “The Government has evaded answering these questions,” he proceeded, “and I submit that the silence of the Minister on the subject is eloquent. I am given to understand that at the present rate of progress all the available building sites in Lower Hutt will be built on within ten years. I am convinced, too, that the Government is on the point of putting something across that will far outdo the ‘Kelly Gang’ before it is finished. Quite definitely, the council will not go into the scheme as a local body. We should make a vigorous protest against being the dumping-ground of outside surplus populations unless the Government is prepared to give the necessary undertakings asked of it. If it will give those assurances we will give it all the co-operation we possibly can.” Scheme Rushed Through. Cr. C. J. Ashton,<said nis sympathies were with the Government in its endeavours to remedy the housing shortage throughout’the Dominion, but he thought it had been rushed' into its present scheme without giving the matter sufficient consideration or obtaining the best advice. "I could have helped the Government a bit—perhaps an infinitesimal bit—and others in the country could have helped also. I must oppose any scheme that does not give the guarantees asked for by the Mayor.”

Cr. W. B. Rainey, while whole-heart-edly in sympathy with tlie Government in its endeavours to solve the housing problem. strongly supported the Mayor and Cr. Ashton. "What is known throughout New Zealand as a •garden suburb' should not be spoilt in any way.” he said. When Cr. M. Macaskill said that in his opinion there was no housing shortage in the borough, Cr. Douse interjected to say that he could take the speaker to one house that had 13 people in it. Cr., Macaskill: if we had housing shortage I would agree to obtaining financial assistance from the Government and so having some say in the tyi>e of bouses to be built. I think the natural increase of population and the influx fi-om outside have been well taken care of by the builders in the borough. Unless we have the assurances asked for by the Mayor we should not rush Into any housing scheme which has not been well thought out. The overcrowding is not here The whole effect would he that we would be solving the housing shortage of Wellington city. I am against imposing any further burden on (lie people of ihe borough.

“I think,” said Cr. Douse, "that, the councillors are adopting a dog-in-the-manger attitude. They are in sym pathy with the national scheme, but say keep off Lower Hutt.’” "The Government,” said the Mayor, “has been offered advice from building societies and others qualified by experience to give good advice, but they have received a slap in the face for xtheir pains. I think a .large building

concern has misled the Government. You will find that that concern will soon be building 300 houses here.” Cr. Douse: No one in his wildest dreams would say that the Government intends to destroy its own securities. It has thousands of pounds invested here. It is not going to destroy that. The Mayor wanted to know of Cr. Douse what sort of bouses he thought the Government could build and let at a rent of 12/ti to 17/(5, and at the same time be answerable for rates and other outgoings. Cr Douse considered the houses would be quite adequate. "There is not Hie slightest doiilit,” lie said, "that the Government will meet its liabilities as it promised to do before it came into office.”

The Mayor stated that the loss to the borough on the 300 Government-built houses, if the Government did not guarantee the rates, would probably amount to about £2250, while a further large sum would be lost in building permits and sewerage connections. The motion of “co-operation” was lost by seven votes to two.