NOT THE TIME

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 153, 30 June 1944, Page 6

NOT THE TIME

"LUXURY" BUILDING

N.Z.R.S.A. AND HOUSING

Objection to "luxury" building was made at the N.Z.R.S.A. conference during consideration of the rehabilitation remits, and with the concern expressed over the housing position there was mention of cases of people being forced to live in "hovels," it being suggested that delegates would be staggered 'by ~ the circumstances of some cases which had been brought to the notice of the R.S.A. committee. In urging that steps be taken to ask the Government not to spend so much money on luxury buildings, Mr. D. W. Russell (Ch'ristehurch) drew attention to the fact that a big new railway goods shed was to be v erected in Christchurch. "Well," he said, "we have done without it for a long time, and we can still do without it. We think that the materials and labour can-be put into houses for returned men and for the general relief of the .housing position." A northern delegate pointed to a case in the Waikato where certain farm buildings were being replaced. "It is a darned shame that cowsheds should be pulled down'when they are crying out for building materials," he declared. Objection was also raised by another delegate to the use of materials for the erection of racing stalls near Auckland. ' Suggesting thai the matter was one of control, Mr. Postlewaite (Auckland) considered that, with all the luxury buildings that were being erected in New Zealand, it would be a good plan to make representations to the authorities to ' see that there was no indiscriminate issue of permits. • : ' "It does hurt us .to see all ;this luxury building going on," said Mr. C. J. Tustin (Hutt Valley), "and we should do all in our power to see that materials and labour are used for proper purposes." 7.. USE OF CAMP SITES. The utilisation of huts on camp sites as a temporary means of easing the position was put forward by Mr. G. A. Kayden (chairman of the special committee which had dealt with the rehabilitation remits) as a recommendation from the committee. ; He stressed the fact that that accommodation would be temporary only, and that it was the opinion that those who might enter camp huts should be given first con-, sideration as houses became available. One remit on this particular aspect of the housing" question was approved as follows:—"That the Government be urged to take immediate action in the, matter of providing even temporary accommodation for returned men." A point to be stressed to the Government, suggested Mr. T. G. Taylor (Wellington), was that they did not want to be side-tracked by the old cry of trouble r about material. The temporary accommodation was, so badly needed that the peop,le without homes had to dwell in a community settlement. - * OFFICES BEFORE HOUSES? "We have at least two hotel buildings in Wellington that have now been vacated," said Mr. 3. D. Harper in advocating the use of premises no longer required by the Services. "Some of these families without homes could be accommodated there. However, one of these places is .-being turned into Government offices. I think it is decidedly wrong to start pulling these buildings about and putting in offices in view of the present housing position." ■;■ • ■ ■•■ ' . ■ : •It was urged; during further discussion, that the Government be requested to make. an immediate survey of the number of buildings not occupied as homes throughout the year. Beach houses, it was thought, might help to solve the problem. On the motion of Mr. H. B. Burdekiri, the following was adopted along with other remits: "That this conference approves of the action of the D.S.C. in requesting the Government to ascertain the number of houses that are not occupied for the .greater part of the year (particuarly beach and weekend houses), and requesting that such houses be made available (with ade; quate safeguards) as temporary homes for ex-servicemen owing to the desperate housing position obtaining at present.". . Wherever a person owned two houses and used one. as, say, a weekend resort, it was considered by Mr. Burdekin —and he indicated that certain representations had been made in the matter—that the Government should1 take steps to have the lesserused or beach house made available as temporary homes for those in nefed. "We hold the good will of the people of this country, and when we start interfering with individual rights we are. going.- to come up against a bundle of trouble," said Mr. A. W. Mewton (Manawaiu). It was thought by him that it would be well to leave the matter of seaside places alone, and in any case there was the point to be considered that such places ! might be far removed from the place where the serviceman was working)- ; Mr. W. E. Leadley . informed the . conference, during the housing dis- ■ cussion, that the Mayor of Welling- ' ton had intimated that he was going' ' into the question of having temporary accommodation provided for those servicemen who were unable to secure housing accommodation.