WOMEN AND HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 154, 27 March 1937, Page II (Supplement)

WOMEN AND HOUSING

State Scheme Discussed SOCIAL SERVICES GUILD “I cannot say anything about the rents, but I think you will all be agreeably surprised,'’ said Mrs. J. A. Lee, wife of the Parliamentary Undersecretary in Charge of Housing, in reply to a question asked at a meeting of the Wellington Women's Social Services’ Guild, which was called to discuss the Government housing scheme. Comment on the architects’ plans was mainly favourable, but there were several suggestions fo r improvement which will be summarised by an appointed sub-committee and forwarded to the authorities. Though the meeting realised they would probably come too late to be considered for the first batch of houses. It was hoped that, as housing was likely to be a problem for some time, they would be useful at a later stage.

One of the principal subjects of criticism was what seemed to the meeting to be the inadequate window space and lack of provision for sun porches in the houses. One speaker suggest-

ed that the additional expense of a sun room or porch could be met by reducing the passageways and even taking away one bedroom. Au enclosed porch could be used for sleeping.

Another demand was for a destructor beside the cooking range. Rubbish could be easily burned, and the top of the destructor used for heating stock or slow-boiling joints.

Would tenants be able to choose whether they should have houses fitted with gas or electric appliances, was a third question. Mrs. Lee thought they would. In Dunedin, some women had shown a strong desire to retain

their old coal ranges, but in this case the Government had had to be firm. Even in Dunedin they could not have the ranges, which involved too much drudgery, but other provision would be made for heating the homes.

“I tried to out-think, as a woman, the authorities responsible for the housing arrangements,” said Mrs. Lee. “But I found that what suggestions I made had already been considered carefully. Of course, everyone has their own ideal house, but I think these have been well planned.”

People who lived in them would be fortunate, agreed a member. She hoped that when they were occupied, the tenants would show a sense of responsibility and treat them properly. In hotels and boarding-houses appalling and disgraceful damage was often done through the quite unnecessary carelessness of visitors. She would like to see some communal life among the little group of State tenants, and she suggested the establishment of an adults’ club, a kindergarten, creche and hospital for illnesses of a certain degree. The need for State housing for single women and childless couples and for Maoris was also discussed. An Instance was quoted of a block of apartments in Glasgow, where single women lived. Each apartment consisted of a bedroom, living-room and kitchenette, with bathrooms separate and common to several tenants. The rent in Glasgow, where conditions were very different from New Zealand, was five shillings weekly, and a caretaker was in charge of the whole block. Similar schemes were in operation in various other centres. The Maoris were supposed to be a hapy-go-lucky people who did not take much care of their homes, said one member, but it had to be remembered that they had been forced into an astonishing jump from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. Authorities had remarked on the cleanliness of the pas in 1840. In their simple way. they were kept spotless. But now the Maoris found it difficult to adjust themselves to the new conditions, and they needed assistance.