HOUSING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10660, 5 August 1920, Page 4

HOUSING

Various questions, asked in Parliament and elsewhere, indicate that a serious attempt may ho made to grapple with the housing problem. And there is growing mention of four firms preparing to put up a substantial proportion of the required tenements at onoo. Coupled with one of these statements is a demand-—on tho part of Colonel Mitchell—to throw open the business to tho whole Dominion. We sympathise with this desire to "get on with the war." But it is impossible to ask why the thing ie just now confined to four firms. The fact is that these firms—if there is any truth in the story indicated by the questions—have had the enterprise to tackle tho situation, while the others havo been asleep. Possibly tho firms in question have knowledge not possessed by the others of some process of building more rapidly and cheaper than any of the present methods; knowledge not possessed by those who have hitherto been in the same position as .the Levite to the good Samaritan played by the four. :■, If so, it follows, of course, that they have an advantage whioh rio passing of resolutions by Government or Parliament or local body can tako away. That advantage is amenable only to business consideratioruj. The main point in this matter, however, should not be lost sight of. It is the imperative necessity for the immediate solution of the housing problem. Hitherto the attempts at solution, considered by the light of the few houses mentioned in connection with them, have been simply ludicrous. The 500 mentioned in connection with the story of the four firms represent a great advance. But tho country requires 16..0Q0 houses. Moreover, and this cannot, be too strongly insisted upon, it wants them within a year after the final assurance of the necessary materials. To organise a solution within twelve months will require, of course, a very strong, very energetic, very clear-headed effort. Such an effort is necessary. It can only be successful if under a single direction, capablo, resourceful, commanding. The need is for us here now—as great as was tho need which during the war produced the single direction of British industry which won the war. That is tho point to keep. in view before everything, if the housing problem is to be solved with tho rapidity which the causo of reconstruction requires. Wo oannot afford to let any grass grow under our foot.