‘SERIOUS POSITION’

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21756, 4 July 1945, Page 2

‘SERIOUS POSITION’

HOUSING_PROBLEM TEMPORARY HOMES

COUNCIL'S SUGGESTION The use of military huts and buildings to provide temporary accommodation for homeless families in Gisborne - was a subject engaging much of the attention of members of the Gisborne Borough Council. lasi evening, when it was finally decided to communicate with the Ministers concerned for action upon the matter.

The discussion arose through receipt of two letters in reply to inquiries by the council as to the use of military buildings, now not occupied, to provide homes in an effort to alleviate the serious housing shortage in Gisborne.

In a communication from the director of housing construction it was slated.that this had always, been discouraged on tlie grounds that such accommodation would be definitely sub-standard and expenditure for repairs uneconomical. It had also been found that - temporary homes tended in time to become permanent and later deteriorate into slum conditions. The department considered it advisable tp concentrate .on permanent housing. To this end contracts had been let for the construction of 55 new house units on a block in Gisborne, and tenders had been called for an additional 35. The letter also advised that a visit, to this district by the land purchasing officer was expected in the near future to acquire additional land for building.

Tlie director- of rehabilitation advised that his department, in view of shortage of labour and materials, was unable to support the council's proposal for the construction of temporary housing accommodation. Immediate Action Needed ; Mr.. F. Tolerton .stated that the housing situation was serious in this district, and required immediate action. He moved that in view of the extreme shortage of houses for returned men and others, the council viewed-with alarm the apathetic replies from the Housing and Rehabilitation Departments, and suggested that tlie matter be referred back to them with tlie comments of the council. The, Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, said that the position was little short of desperate. A committee set up earlier this year had. gone into the matter of housing, and at the time found that there were 83 houses required for servicemen: the figure now was 100. In addition, there were 300 families on the list of tlie State Advances Department. At present there were not nine houses in sight being built and made ready for occupation in nine months.. The Slate housing plan could not possibly provide enough homes within .years, and each month the position grew worse with more servicemen returning. ( If huts and military buildings could nett be used as temporary accommodation. then many families would be without a roof over their heads. They would -be only too glad to have the opportunity of gaining accommodation in these huts, which were or ( could be developed into very habit-, able buildings, in preference to the tent or other .. unsuitable housing] arrangement th'cy now existed under. I Department’s Attitude I

No doubt, lie said, the department was* right in saying that that means of accommodation would be uneconomical and rriifhl develop into permanent slum areas, but under the present /serious'circumstances such action was , necessary until such , time as permanent. and more congenial homes could be. provided for these unfortunate people. There 'were regulations, and later if anv person in a temporary home refused to leave when there was ;a good house, available lie could be made to do so, if his own good sense did not impel him to. ’ Mr, Bull also pointed out that there Was an excellent site along the Waikanae Beach, handy to town, where the: many vacated military buildings in the district could be shifted. Mr. G. J. Jeune asked how far the committee had °ot in its investigations.

Mr. Bull advised that it bad found out that 18 huts and a few_ of the bigger buildings at the old air force camp were priced at £2OOO. Only live of the people approached with a view to their willingness to occuov a building there had agreed, the reason bein'* the distance from town. The proposed beach camp, however, would overcome this. Mr. R. Morse said that there was a perfectly good stretch of ground along the beach hear the “aol. Mr. M. J. White inquired what it would cost to lay on water and power. Mr Bull said that sewerage would

cost about £6OO. Mr. G. D. Muirhead said that, the number of people requiring homes in the district also should be, stated in the letters 1o the departments - concerned and a full explanation given ol' the existing position. Condemned Houses Dr. A. L. Singer stated that, it should be nointed out that there were a large number of old houses in Gisborne in a bad state of disrepair. Many houses had been condemned some years ago, but the occupants still had to remain in them. He said that the former air force hospital was an ideal building to house two or three families. It was a complete unit and had been lying idle for some months. Mr. Jeurie pointed out that the lack of building materials precluded the buildin« of new houses, to a great extent. It would be some time before adequate housing could be arranged in Gisborne. There had been ex-

amples here of the length of time I taken to build and prepare State houses for occupation. Those mentioned in the director's letter had not even been fully commenced, so it would probably be at least a year before they would be ready, and the need was growing all the more urgent i all the time. Mr. While said that it appeared to him that Ihe council would only be wasting its time by writing to the directors of housing and rehabilitation. Their views were already known, it was time to directlv approach the Ministers. The Housing Department was not concerned with putting a roof over a person’s head, rather it was interested only in the building of houses for the Stale. It did not want to see ddier means of accommodation being taken up. On the suggestion of Mr. M.- .1. White, Mr. Tolerlon amended his original motion to refer the matter direct to the Ministers of Housing and Rehabilitation and to the local member of Parliament, Mr D. W. Coleman.