SLUM CLEARANCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 9

SLUM CLEARANCE

BRITISH MOVEMENT LOCAL BODIES ACTIVE SCHEMES BEING CONSIDERED MINISTER'S CAMPAIGN By Telegraph—Proes Association—Copyright (Received August 23, 6.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGEY. Aug. 22 Local authorities throughout Britain at present are concentrating on schemes for the removal of slums and the provision of alternative accommodation. For the most part the slums are situated in the older boroughs and, in the words of the Minister of Health, Sir Edward Hilton Young, are relics of the time when the general law and by-laws did not prevent the establishment of housing conditions intolerable according to present standards. In a recent circular memorandum the_ Minister stated that the conditions at present were auspicious for a concerted and determined attack on the slums. He called upon the local authorities to submit definite schemes for the removal within five j'ears of all unsuitable dwellings. Since the war most of the local authorities have considered housing in relation to new construction to meet the demands of the population. Within the last 14 years 2,000,000 new houses have been built and only a small proportion of these have been definitely allotted to slum dwellers. Although many progressive boroughs have done excellent work in tackling local slum areas the action of the Minister in dealing with the subject on a national basis has stimulated interest generally and enlisted public support for drastic slum clearance schemes.