STATE HOUSING

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1944, Page 4

STATE HOUSING

FOR SOUTH ISLAND CENTRES Demand of Local Body Conference

P.A. ' CHRISTCHURCH, May 3. Grave concern at the housing situation throughout the South Island, particularly in view of the return o. soldiers seeking homes, was expressed by members of the executive or South Island Local Bodies’ Association which met in Christchurch today. Several resolutions were carried drawing the attention of the Government, to the urgency of the matter.

Mr. D. H. Cockburn (who represented the. Otago Counties) moved that the Government be requested to give immediate attention to the necessity of deferring the building of unessential amenities in the cities, and of concentrating on t'be erection of dwelling houses which at present were so urgently required. The Government was also asked to re-intro-duce the principle, of subsidising rural local bodies for the building of houses. The motion was carried.

The Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. E. H. Andrews, moved: “That, realising the desperate and ever-increasing-need, with the return of soldiers, for housing of the people, and in view of the probability of science producing in the next few years, cheaper and better building mediums, this executive urges the Government to adopt a scheme such as is in vogue in England, by building cheap houses that can be erected ouickly, even if they have onlv a short term life.” “Something would have to be done ver v quickly,” declared Mr. Andrews. “Some people in Christchurch were living under shocking conditions. The situation in Christchurch was not as bad as that in Wellington and Auckland. It was in his opinion, quite bad enough. It was not right, that former soldiers with their wives and children should be expected to live in one room.”

Building should be concentrated upon essential work, said the Mayor of Timaru, Mr. A. E ,S. Hanan, rather than upon the restoration of breweries or picture theatres. “We should cut out all renovations unless they are absolutely necessary,” he said, “and concentrate upon housing. I know that the Government are doing their best and we do not want to aggravate the situation.” Mass production in factories, remarked Mr. G. Rowley, Chairman of the Westland County Council, might do something towards easing the situation. He had heard of one house being erected in Auckland in ten days. The situation might be overcome, he added, if houses were constructed that would have a life of only ten years. Mr. Andrews.; “We do not like cheap things, but that seems to me the only thipe to do in the present circumstances.”

It was most unfortunate, commented Mr. L. A. Neiderer (who represented Southland Counties)', that so many carpenters had been removed from the South Island. That action undoubtedly aggravated the situation, though, he said, he realised the needs of the military. Mr. Hanan: “We are told to populate or perish. It is' now a question of build or perish.” The Invercargill Citv Council, said Mr. A Wachner, could proceed with its housinp- scheme but for a lack of labour. “That is what is holding us up,” he said. Mr. Hanan said fie had reason for stating that the Labour situation would be considerablv relieved within the next few months.

Prefabricated Houses BRITAIN'S INNOVATION ' LONDON, May 2. Five tons of pressed steel as well as aluminium, asbestos and plywood are used in making the prefabricated house which Mr Churchill promised half a million demobilised servicemen and bombed-out families in his recent broadcast speech. Details are now available for the first time, and a sample house is now on exhibition in London.

The house, which is single-storey, has a living room 14ft 3in x 10ft Ilin, tw'o bedrooms each 12ft 5Mn x 10ft Ilin, and a kitchen 10ft 2’,in x 7ft 31in. There is a small hall, bathroom, separate lavatory, and bicycle" shed. There are no exterior pipes in order to prevent freezing, and no inside pipes show. The bathroom and kitchen are back to back, giving a single plumbing system. The kitchen is regarded as one of the most interesting features. It includes a combined cooker, sink, draining boards and refrigerator with steel doors and cupboards. Behind the refrigerator is an electric immersion heater providing a quick supply of hot water when the living room fire, which is the main water heater, is not in use. The kitchen table, when not in use, can be folded into the wall. The walls and ceiling are sheet steel enamelled to ease cleaning. Space for crockery, cooking utensils, food and vegetables fs provided by large built-in cupboards. Either electricity or gas .can be used for cooking and refrigeration, according to the tenants choice. Cupboard units make walls between the living room, bedroom and the second bedroom and kitchen. Walls in the bedrooms are covered with painted plywood. The house has four window’s, front and back, and no windows at the side walls. All the walls, both inside and out, are painted a light stone colour and the woodwork is grass-green. The fitted furniture is valued at £BU. These houses, which are intended tor married couples or a couple witn two children, are expected m last aobut ten years. They will be Gov-ernment-owned an dlicensed, and tne local authorities will be the agents.