HOUSE SHORTAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22147, 28 June 1935, Page 13

HOUSE SHORTAGE

INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE PROPOSAL FOB PARNELL THE OLD SCHOOL SITE A proposal that the City Council should consider the acquisition of the site of the old Parnell School for city improvement purposes wns made to the council last by the Hon. '1". Bloodworth, JI.LC. In accordance with a notice of motion, Mr. Bloodworth moved that the council, with a view to improving housing conditions within the city and to providing useful employment, should go into the question of acquiring the school site area, together with adjacent areas. He suggested that if tho area was acquired it should be suitably replanned and modern buildings erected upon parts of it. He moved that the matter be referred to the Town Planning Committee for a report as to costs, with a provisional plan of layout and buildings. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, presented a memorandum containing the views of three land and estate firms which he had asked for statements on the reported house shortage ii? Auckland. These all pointed to an acute shortage of houses suitable for the housing of a family and available at a rental within the means of the average working man. The motion was carried. The Town Planning Committee reported that it had asked the city engineer, who was already in possession of much data, to investigate and report, fully at as early a date as possible. The committee stated that inquiries were also being made with a view to co-operating with any scheme which the Government might contemplate. The chairman of this committee. Mr. B. Martin, paid there were grounds on which the council would be justified in encouraging & housing scheme.

CIVIC THEATRE RENTAL REDUCTION EXTENDED PROCESSION IN CITY The Property Committee of the City Council, in a report to the council last night, upheld (j recommendation by its predecessor that Civic Iheatre, Limited, be granted a 12 months' extension from July 1 of the further 20 per cent reduction in the ground rental of the Civic Theatre property. The original rental. £4201 a year, had been reduced by statute to £3360 and again by the council to £2688. It was decided to forward a letter of thanks to Mr. C. T. Major for his offer to surrender to the council without payment a piece of land at the corner oftfJemuera and Portland Roads to enable the corner to be set back and rounded. This offer was made in connection with the subdivision of portion of the property occupied by King's Preparatory School. A deputation from the Auckland council of the New Zealand National Movement Against War and Fascism waited on the council and asked for the right to hold a torchlight procession on the evening of August 1, leaving Quay Street and marching to Karangahape Road and thence to the Domain, where an anti-war demonstration would be held. They asked that they be given the services of the Municipal Band. A further request was that they be given the right to use the Town Hall on the night of August 4, when a further anti-war meeting was to be held. Permission was given to hold the procession to the Domain and the meeting in the Town Hall, but the use of the Municipal Band was not given. Permission was conditional on the procession beginning not later than 7.15 p.m. and not stopping en route, and that the type of torch to be used be approved by the superintendent of the Metropolitan Fire Board. The town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham, reported that the cost of acquiring Messrs. Duthie. Bridson and Company's building in Customs Street East for the purpose of extending Commerce Street was £15,704. The tender for the removal of the building was £337. out of which £132 was paid for the plastering of the exposed party wall, leaving the net amount received bv the council of £205.