VACANT HOUSES

Evening Star, Issue 18337, 26 July 1923, Page 11

VACANT HOUSES

SIDELIGHT ON CITY SHORTAGES.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.]

WELLINGTON, July 25. Consideration of the Bent Restriction Bill in* committee gave members of tho House the opportunity to again remind the Government to-night of the severe housing shortage in tho dominion. Mr Massey countered to eome extent by telling of the Christchurch workers’ dwellings settlement, soma of the houses being vacant. “ I>o you know why they are vacant?" asked Mr Howard. ’’ No, I don’t,” confessed the Premier.

‘‘You built them in a swamp,” exclaimed tho member for Christchurch. Tho Premier said ho did not know it was so bad as that. People would not be foolish enough to build in a swamp; but it might bo low-lying ground, and lie had seen this class of land made quite dry with drainage. He understood that in a few week's all these houses would be occupied. Ho was informed that in Dunedin there were houses -vacant.

Mr Monteith : They are “ over the hills and far away.” Mr Massey continued that there was always difficulty about distance from the city. Workers wanted to live within five minutes of the main street. So far as Auckland was concerned, he had seen a wonderful housing development. Paddocks which three years ago were empty now contained streets. It was simply marvellous, and that sort of thing deserved to he encouraged. Though the Rent Restriction Bill did not help towards building, it was the Government’s duty to keep it on the Statute Book until it could be withdrawn without serious hardship. As for supplying houses to the people, ho had arranged the financial side, an! would a.sk Parliament for more borrowing authority. He did not anticipate difficulty in raising the money required. Mr Howard (Christchurch South) assured the House that the Government houses in North cote Settlement were on a tram section costing 4d to reach. Recently tiro tenants were swamped ; they had to use tables on which to walk to reach the footpath. Tho Government bad been badly advised over this, because nice sections could have been bought for £OO at Linwnod. But people would not live in a puddle unless they were driven to it. Tho housing was put into the hands of an overworked Government, which did not understand housing. The Railway Department with its housing factory was doing the work in a businesslike way.

GREAT FAITH IN NEW SCHEME,

[Per United Press Association,]

WELLINGTON, July 25. _ Speaking to the Bill, Mr P. Fraser said he hoped that instead of this Bill being renewed every year it would become permanent, to io repealed by special Act when that was possible. He _ had been going into the question of housing in the main’ cities, avid as a result he had come to the conclusion tint this legislation was more necessary to-day than was the case in 1915, when it was first enacted. In reply, the Minister said that this was really war legislation, and should bo got rid of at the earliest possible moment. He intended having a complete investigation of the housing position made during the recess, hut he had great faith in the new scheme which the Government was now seeking to pass into law.. After nest year he'hoped io bo able to dispense with this class of legislation, as he was informed that tho only cities in which it was required to-day were Auckland' and Wellington. Mr T. M. Wilford urged that the hoard which will advarce money fop housing should contain at hast cue builder and an architect to advise upon practical and technical question;; connected with hous'‘Mr Massey mid that where skilled opinion was required the arrangement was that officers of the Public Works Department could, give their services. Members continued to discuss all phases of the houshig problem unli. 1 10.15 p.m., when the short title of the Bill was passed. At clause 2 Air Fraser suggested that the Minister should delete certain words, the effect of which would bo to make tho legislation permanent; but (he Minister did not accept the suggestion, but gave a definite assurance that tho logislatiofi would bo continued so long as it was necessary. The Bill passed tho committee stage without amendment.