SYSTEMATIC HOUSING

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1936, Page 8

SYSTEMATIC HOUSING

If Mr. Lee follows the lines laid down in his statements,the constructional part of the Government's housing plan should be successful. We are still of opinion that the policy of Government construction and financing is open to serious objection, and that it would have been better, before entering upon this on so large a scale, to have attempted to remove the obstacles which have kept private finance out of the housing business. The use of Reserve Bank credit while there are ample supplies of private money awaiting investment is also dangerous. Nevertheless, if the Government is resolved to become the country's biggest landlord as well as the biggest mortgagee, every effort should be made to carry out the business in a businesslike way. The first step, obviously, is to ascertain the probable demand. This the Government proposes to do by extending the Housing Survey Act passed by the last Parliament, and issuing the regulations which will make it effective. When the survey has been made it will be possible to say with reasonable accuracy where, and to what extent, overcrowding exists, and to direct housing operations towards the speedy amelioration of conditions. ,

Pending such a survey, the Government has decided that conditions in Wellington and Auckland are such that immediate construction is called for. It has secured land and is preparing to begin building. The plan outlined provides for detached houses in the suburbs. Ultimately, the Government will probably have to add provision for group housing on a modified flat system nearer to the business area. That, however, calls for more study than can be given if building is to begin immediately. The Ministry of Housing, nevertheless, is seeking the economy of mass production by standardising interior arrangements : (with sufficient choice to meet individual tastes) and proposing construction in quantities. This should keep costs down and yet avoid the sameness which is so depressing to people who like to be individualistic in culture even if their wants are met by a socialistic economy. There is, however, a danger in this quantity construction of which Mr.. Lee seems to be aware. Either a big Government Department may be established, to the destruction of the business of numerous small builders, or all the work may be placed with one or two big contracting firms, with equally unfortunate effect on the small builders. To avoid this the Government is arranging the preparation of plans through private architects, and is proposing to call for construction tenders for groups of dwellings. These arrangements should pernu't the Government to have the benefit of professional skill and the existing building trade organisation at reasonable cost. There has been some ! criticism already of the erection of State joinery factories when, it is i claimed, existing works can fill all Government orders. It would certainly be a mistake to go further than [this, and organise special profesjsional staffs and duplicate building plant. That would mean that any State gain from mass production would be offset by private and comimunity loss in unnecessary creation lof building facilities. The aim should be to make the best use of available skill, plant, and labour, LaatLnoJt-to- wn,der,.-anj J -.-p£- iL-uselesa*