THE USE OF TRANSIT

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 56, 4 September 1945, Page 6

THE USE OF TRANSIT

CAMPS

The decision of the Government to co-operate with local bodies in providing transit and temporary housing to meet the urgent need for accommodation is welcome, and it is to be hoped that, now the plan has been approved, there will be the minimum of delay in putting it into operation. A considerable time has elapsed since the proposal was first made, and the problem, which was already serious, has been aggravated by the sudden ending of hostilities and the prospective early release of large numbers of servicemen. What has been achieved at Pahiatua in housing the Polish children

encourages the belief that good use can be made of existing buildings, particularly in city areas, in overcoming the most pressing difficulties. Temporary housing can be provided quickly and by using existing buildings at comparatively small cost. In Wellington, as the Mayor has suggested, the use of the buildings and other facilities on Anderson Park would provide for a large number of people and there is the added advantage that the area is close to the city. There has been some objection to the idea of transit camps on the ground that temporary accommodation tends to become permanent. Any tendency in this direction will certainly have to be guarded against. Probably the greatest safeguard will be that the transit camps will be situated on public property and will be a constant reminder to citizens, and, it is hoped, to the authorities, that the land is not being used for the purpose for which it was originally set aside. The provision of temporary accommodation is essential under present conditions, but there must be no slackening in the main task —the erection of sufficient houses to meet the needs of everybody who is seeking a permanent home. Transit camps, or any other form of temporary accommodation, must be that and nothing more. •