VICTORIA SLUMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 17

VICTORIA SLUMS

STATE HOUSING PLAN FACING MANY PROBLEMS INTEREST IN NEW ZEALAND Differences in the housing schemes being carried out in New Zealand and Victoria, Australia, were discussed by Mr. W. 0. Burt, a Melbourne solicitor, who arrived by-the Oronsay yesterday. A member of the Victorian Housing Commission and also of the Royal Commission which inquired into slum clearance in Melbourne two years ago, Mr. Burt intends to visit State housing settlements and confer with Government officials while visiting New Zealand.

Victoria's approach to tho problem was different from that of New Zealand in that it concentrated on clearing slums, which were alleged to be as bad as those of London, said Mr. Burt. From an official search of 7000 houses it was found that 67 per cent of the occupants were unskilled workers, and 17 per cent were skilled workers who lost their employment in the depression. Others included pensioners.

"Our conclusion was that housing was really the problem of poverty," said Mr. Burt. "Housing provided by the State is the only method of assisting the lower-paid worker. At best, however, it is only a palliative. The solution is not merely in providing bricks and mortar, but in increasing the earning power of the worker." The initial outlay to clear slums, as recommended by the commission, was £3,500,000. A grant of £500,000 had been made, and it was hoped that the erection of 400 houses in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne would soon begin. It was proposed to build about 1000 homes each year. With the aid of local institutions, community health centres would be established, including boys' clubs, baby creches, dental clinics, recreation grounds and other amenities. Six public schools had offered to finance the building of clubs and provide the staffs. Mr. Burt added that there was no fear that the Bcheme would lead to nationalisation of the building industry. Tenders would be called for building, and prizes would be offered for competition among architects and town planners. A panel of leading architects would assist the commission in an advisory capacity. "I am particularly interested in such aspects of the New Zealand scheme as building costs, tba 6yatem of adjusting rentals to the tenant's capacity to pay and the method of selecting tenants," said Mr. Burt. "Our system will be based on differential rentals, involving rebates to tenants according to their ability to pay. Many tenants will have to be" prepared for their new environment, and in this way the social worker will assist, co-operation by social organisations the State having already been promised."