LAND HUNGER AT NAPIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19777, 26 October 1927, Page 8

LAND HUNGER AT NAPIER.

HARBOUR RECLAMATION. INACTIVITY OFVHE BOARD. "AWFUL HOUSING CONDITIONS." COMMISSION DEEPLY SHOCKED. •'With all the strength of purpose aaa vigour of utterance of which we are capable, we urge that the reckoning is not complete until the effect of these? awful housmg conditions oj the physical, mental and moral equipment of the people 13 taken into account," stated the commissioners who recently inquired into Napier, harbour affairs, in that port_T»n of their report which deait with reclamation. "We trust that Your Excellency's advisers will take adequate steps to see that this evil is remedied as far as possible and that ita recurrence is made impossible." After reviewing the facts prompting those remarks, the commissioners stated: —"We consider that the evidence given by several witnesses to the effect that Napier had been starved for land and had been deprived of population, which was driven to Hastings and other surrounding towns, amply proved their assertions, while Mr. J. A. Oldham g v statement that the Harbocr Board had put only 10 acres of residential land on • the market in 15 years was uncontradicted. "We express ourselves as being deeply shocked by the stato of things disclosed," continued the commissioners' report. After referring to other evidence regarding conditions and the price of land, "and when considered in conjunction with Mr. Oldham's evidence to the effect that in the last 15 years only 10 acre* of residential land has been reclaimed and put on the market, it constitutes a grave indictment of the Harbour Board's inactivity in the matter of reclamation. Figure?, showing the high rentals which the Harbour Board is recoiving for small residential and business blocks m -this locality were put before us- for the purpose of sustaining the high potential values of the unreclaimed portions."