ACTION DEMANDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 2 May 1947, Page 6

ACTION DEMANDED

HOUSING NEEDS WELLINGTON MOVE ORGANISATION FORMED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. May 1. A group known as the Combined Organisations' Housing Committee was formed last night at a meeting convened by Mr, A. B. Skilton, the Wellington district secretary of the Communist Party, to consider the housing situation and to make representations to the Government. The meeting elected Mr. K. Heyder. of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, as its chairman. Mr. W. A. Jamieson, secretary of the Wellington Carpenters' Union, as vice-chairman, and Mr. R. Nunes, of the Communist Party, as secretary. About 30 persons attended, including representatives of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, the Pensioners’ Association, Communist Party, Carpenters’ Union, Watersiders’ Union and the interim committee of the Women's Charter Organisation, and the Building Trades Workers’ Federation and the Y.M.C.A. had observers present. Interested organisations are to be asked to elect representatives to a working executive. The meeting, passed a resolution stating that the housing situation had become a national crisis requiring emergency measures, and that the Government should take statutory authority to requisition improperly utlised or unoccupied nouses subject to the owners’ right of appeal to a competent tribunal. It was also resolved that the Government should operate a national transit housing scheme removed from local body control and prosecuted with the same vigour as wartime defence construction. Mr. Skilton expressed surprise and disappointment at the non-attendance of a R.S.A. representative. The R.S.A. had replied stating that no useful purpose would be served by attending further meetings, although it was interested in the subject. Mr. Skilton also said he had a list, which was increasing, of 12 empty houses in Wellington. Mr. W. McAra, acting as deputy of the secretary of the Wellington Watersiderr.’ Union, Mr. E. A. Napier, said the watersiders were wholeheartedly behind the proposals. The Government had to realise that the people were at breaking point so far as housing was concerned.