HOUSING PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 44, 20 February 1918, Page 8

HOUSING PROBLEM

DISCUSSED'AT PETONE.

: ' A meeting of the Petone branch of the Central Chamber of. Commerce was held last evening, Mr. J. W. M'Ewan. occupying the chair. After formal business had been transacted the chairman opened a discussion on' the housing problem.

■ The position at present, said the speaker, was that there were no houses to let: an Petone, and there was a big demand which could not be met. Manyold houses,' .which had seen their best days, had been repaired and inhabited. The evil of two families in one house was a growing one both in Petone and Wellington. Although landlords said, and probably truly, that letting houses was not profitable, yet undoubtedly rents were better paid and were higher,.,than formerly. This was partly owing to tho Government allowing landlords to claim 8 per cent' on the capital value. There were no 'houses being built and the problem was acute. Labour and material were both dear, and land remained at about the same price. Private enterprise was lacking, because it did not pay. The Stato Advances Department was doirig what it could. Veiy little was being done by the Labour. Department, which had only erected, in Petone, three houses "in 'eighteen ,months. The municipality was faced with the same difficulties as private enterprise and the State. When the war . was over "he hoped a municipal scheme would be put forward, but ifc was uselss to discuss it at the present moment.

Mr. J. B. Carey said he was not enamoured of the workers' homes, but thought the State advances scheme an excellent one.

Mr. Sibun pointed out how impossible it was for private ■ enterprise to erect ■ houses to let at a low rental. Eight per cent, was a little enough return, but a five-roomed house would now cost for land and building £750, and the renta.l of that at 8 per cent, would be about 255. A working man should not pay more than 12s 6d or 14s.

Mr. Kerr said the solution of the problem was cheap money to enable everyone to own his ■ own house.

Mr. Cook said the solution lay in the standardisation of the houses, but it was difficult to get people to agree to this. ■

The Chairman pointed out that -under the bylaws there was nothing to hinder a person building a small portion of his house and living in it until he was able to complete it. Cheap money was not always a blessing, as it sometimes led to ■undue speculation. ''."

The branch decided to meet monthly and to discuss at the next meeting the best means of utilising the. local wharf.