Housing Shortage

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 4, 26 June 1946, Page 7

Housing Shortage

POSITION STILL DESPERATE WORK OK REHABILITATION As convenor" of the rehabilitation committee Mr. C. E. Moran reported to the executive council oi the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce last week that the recently-appointed Rehabilitation Officer, Air. Lynch, would take up his duties this week hi the new office in the Post Office Buildings. Mr. Moran said that the housing position for ex-servicemen was still desperate and seemed to be getting worse. He gave instances of great hardship. With 700 applications only 1G houses were allocated during the last six weeks. From November 5, 1945, to .lune 7, 1946, t'he applications received for assistance totalled 93 8, the amount involved being .£47(1,177. The applications for residences were erection 67, totalling £96,835, purchase 147, totalling £193,042; business, 176, £111,329; furniture, 419; £40,830; tools of trade, 44, £2095; miscellaneous, 31, £2236. Fifty-four applications, involving £29,810, were declined. Builders' Attitude Mr. R. H. Webster wanted to know if something could not be done to bring pressure to bear to have more effort, put behind the housing scheme. Mr. L. G. Grimes said that no one felt the position more keenly than the builders, who were eager to complete houses as soon as possible. With the shortage of certain lines it was a physical impossibility to house all necessitous cases. There was need of more co-ordination, between the various departments. He did not think many houses were held up for lack of ranges, baths, etc.

Mr. Webster' said that the problem could be boiled down to labour and materials, and he thought that the solution was simpler than was generally believed. It was all bound up in transportation—getting the materials to the point where they were most needed. Mr. H. V. Horlor said that the problem of housing was exercising experts to their limit and was not easy of solution. Is there a Housing Problem? Mr. N. T. Gillespie doubted whether on purely economic grounds there was a real housing problem in New Zealand. Was it a fictitious demand because of the availability of nice State homes at a low rent? After further discussion Mr. Webster moved that in view of the fact that the housing position throughout New Zealand did not appear to be improving the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand should investigate the position and make recommendations to the Department. The problem was a national one. -

Mr: Grimes seconded the "motion, which on a show of hands was, declared lost. i