UNFIT FOR HABITATION

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 6

UNFIT FOR HABITATION

DEMOLITION OF HOUSCS

WHAT AUCKLAND IS DOING.

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day

Much has already been, done by the Auckland City Council in condemning and removing dwellings quite unfit for human habitation, often in the face of strong opposition by the owners. Up to tho time of the influenza epidemic of 1018 tho council had been responsible for the demolition of over 600 condemned houses, and since then 400 more havo been destroyed as tho result of the direct action of the council. This makes over 1000 dwellings so dealt with, and. does not include quite as many more which have gone to make room for larger buildings, generally of the commercial type. With the growth and development of th 3 city, this war of attrition goes steadily on, but there are still crowded areas which aro not yet within the reach of industrial expansion, and require some attention. On an average, the number of houses removed as the result of the activities of the council is about 40 a year.

It would appear that there are many buildings that would call for this draßtic action, but, however an-ious the council's officers aro to remove them, legal, and sometimes personal considerations, stay their hands. It is often found that a small cottage is the sole property of an aged couple, anr 1 to eject them and destroy tho building would inflict a severe Hardship. ■ There have been cases where the council has advanced a small sum to enable the owners to effect repairs, recovering the amount when the estate oventually becomes available.

During the period when there was_a housing shortage, a little more lenioncy was shown, but this condition no longer prevails to the same extent, and strict supervision is exercised.