HOUSING SCHEMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 17

HOUSING SCHEMES

Sir, —It is most earnestly to be hoped that the City Council will not proceed wit! this ill-chosen scheme of building flats —if they will build, let them at least take the advice of the city engineer, and go on with the_ Cottage Housing Scheme. Even then it is not fair for the municipality to borrow money on the security of private ratepayers' property, and to enter into competition with them. How are the private landlords going to pay their rates? Moreover the scheme will be a financial loss, like the Grey Lynn experience, and as the Government has found to its cost, and this will have to be paid for by the unfortunate ratepayers. The only admitted advantage is the clearance of decadent areas, and the provision of employment. Let these hovels he condemned and pulled down, and the reconstruction left for private enterprise—plenty of cheap capital is available. However, of greater import is the fact that flat life is not the best, not by a long way—congestion, little privacy, little sunshine, no flower or vegetable garden, no room for little children, etc. The flat is a place to sleep in, leading to a pleasure loving and unhealthy life. The ratepayers would instantlv turn the proposal down, but hope the Loan Board will do this for them. The buildings will do the movement sponsoring them no good, for thev will build a monument that will he "an eloquent testimony against them in more ways than financial loss, and for many a year. " Don't Bttild Flats."