SLUM CLEARANCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 1, 27 September 1943, Page 4

SLUM CLEARANCE

Seen As Necessity In Wellington

"People should not have to live in such bad housing conditions in a country like New Zealand,” said Mr. W. IL Hindis, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, nt. its meeting last week. Some years ago the city council had made a survey which disclosed the existence of slum conditions in some parts of M elJingfon. Unfortunately little seemed to have been done to remedy this state' of affairs, largely because of the war diverting energy and attention to other matters of greater immediate importance. "The ..clearing of slum ureas is something that should bo tackled at the earliest possible moment and it may be possible for this chamber to assist,” the president added. Mr. M. Luckie described the peculiar problem facing Wellington. The trouble went back, he said, to the time when the city was first planned in London and divided into 1101) blocks measuring two chains frontage and five chains in depth. Ihis was done as though the whole area consisted of Hat laud. Moreover, the blocks were back to back on (he plan and this necessitated many alleys and rights-of-way to give access to the sections. "Gradually small houses were built, in those alleys and that was how Wellington's slum areas were started.” he said. Tho meeting decided to interview the mayor to see if, and in what way, the chamber of commerce might assist the city council in this matter, which so vitally affected the health and well-being of citizens.