HOUSING IN WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 8

HOUSING IN WELLINGTON

(To the Editor.) '. Sir, —Your, correspondent W. J. Carr, is wide of the mark in saying there is no shortage of houses. He also refers to Moera, Petone. . I take it your article, which stated there was a shortage of houses in Wellington, did not refer to Moera, the workers' settlement, wherein the Government lavished many tens of thousands: of pounds, the result being a congested area, with dozens of houses (very small at that), all looking alike. Who would buy one of those workman's cottages within that small confined area to the west of the north-bound road through Moera? There is a definite shortage in Wellington and suburbs. A friend of mine has hunted for four mouths trying to rent a decent modern house at reasonable rental. She was surprised to find such a scarcity of houses and flats either to let or for sale: I understand the reason is that there is little or no building in Wellington. Furthermore, only people leaving the city would consider selling just now; unless, of course, they wanted money badly. It is obvious to me the low prices cannot remain for long if the law of supply arid demand is taken into account. What would be the position if, say, th<;re was a population of 150,000 or 200,000? It appears to me people will have to live in either the Hutt Valley, Katori, Khandallah, or Tawa Flat; but will the Government run electric cars to Tawa Flat? Being a woman, I naturally prefer to live near to a means of conveyance, preferably tram or electric train. I know Wellington is more or less fully built on, but there is still some land left at Karori and Miramar North, both areas served by tram.

' If builders, carpenters, and other allied tradesmen, who constitute a big percentage of the unemployed in this Dominion, •were at their usual calling, what a tremendous difference it would' make to everyone. I do not think many owners are being forced to leave their homes, and this is another reason for the shortage. One' suggestion I have to make is this: The Government should make a compulsory capital cut of at least 25 per cent., and from that moment onwards you would notice a tremendous improvement in New Zealand in. all spheres of activity. The Dominion is burdened in both city and country alike with inflated land, and mortgages must be'sliced dowru Everyone, mortgagees included, has to make sacrifices resulting* from the Great War.— I am, etc., . ' '! .• . ,-,,■■ E. WOOD.