OUT OF TOWN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 131, 6 June 1925, Page 7

OUT OF TOWN

HOUSING IN THE CITY ' COUNCILLOR M'KEEN'S VIEW. The following statement regarding housing in city and suburbs was made to a representative of "The Post" today by Councillor R, M'Keen, M.P. : "I was rather interested to read Councillor Aston's remarks in your issue of Thursday evening regarding the housing problem in Wellington, and his attempt to explain the difficulties in the wav of its solution. He wakes the assertion, Unit many people would rather live in a couple ot rooms in the city than take a Jiuuse threo or four sections out ' I have already expressed mv disbelief in this contention. I do so because I rc■■ilisctho enormous shortage o£ houses matins city, and people have 1,0 choice. Councillor Aston would lead lis to believe .llml., there was a,, abundance of houses and rooms available, but in preference lo living in a suitable and convenient Belt-contained cottage somewhere in the suburbs, people voluntarily choose to reside 111 a couple of rooms—o-enerally without conveniences—in the heart of the

Until sufficient houses are built, to provide every family with a home, it is mere empty assertion for anyone to conend that whole.families live in rooms from choice. Councillor Aston is again under a misapprehension when he states that one of the difficulties in the way of solving Wellington's housing ,b- JTOcm revealed m the recent inquiry ia (lie disinclination of. people to put up with the inconveniences of residence in the suburbs. The recent inquiry revealed nothing of the kind. What it did reveal, however, was thu shockina amount ol overcrowding which exists in"Wellin<'. ton, and, secondly, the urgent need for more house?.

' Hie party who made the investigatiou uispecled eight dwellings altogether, seven in (lie suburbs and one "in the centre of the city: All were shHe rooms v.-jth two exceptions. Five of the places were situated five sections out Horn CouKcmiy place, and two were four sections out. So whatever else the inquiry may have clone it certainly does not bear out Councillor Alston's contention, but on the contrary completely disproves his case.

'However, (lit! prevailing honsinsj conditions in Wellington to-day are n danger mid a menace lo the health of the community. An offensive must dertake;] at the earliest possible moment by our local and national authorities against the unhealthy, ugly, overcrowded houses in our menu " and sordid slreelF. Health and housing an- imßs KoliiUy connected, l.f a hr-alUiy ,-ace j s fu be reared, it-can be rparerj o >ilv in h-yiltliv-JiMjncii. If couMcilloiß fully realise liieii- i'c.-|>uiisiLiili(i; : .s in (his'matter, they will make an earnest endeavour ('■ bi-in- I'oru-ard ;, whemo lo pr,.-'i,|,. M,Hiri,.Hl. W.« for ;>l| vl J0 ;„',' ,"„ nec ,j at .lac earnest juwaeat.'i