TEMPORARY HOMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25552, 3 June 1944, Page 8

TEMPORARY HOMES

NO SOLUTION OF HOUSING PROBLEM POLICY OF GOVERNMENT (PA.) AUCKLAND, June 2. “ The Government definitely will not stand for the erection of so-called temporary buildings, which would only become permanent slums, nor will it countenance any proposal to put families in barracks,” said the Minister of Works, Mr R. Semple, commenting to-day on various suggestions which have been made in Auckland for the alleviation of the housing shortage. The two principal remedies proposed by various organisations in the city were either to build temporary dwellings or to house citizens in disused military camps until normal building methods could overtake the demand. When asked if he considered that the present orthodox building methods could meet the demand, Mr Semple replied that although it would take some time this could be achieved within a reasonable period. “It is the intention of the Government to use timber from abandoned military camps to build permanent homes, not slums,” added the Minister. “ Temporary buildings are about double the cost and. less than half the remedy. We admit there is an acute housing shortage. It must be faced as expeditiously as possible, but it can be overcome only according to the man-power and materials available. The Government cannot do the impossible. “ The Government does not care who builds houses so long as homes are provided at a reasonable rental,” said the Minister in reply to a question as to what encouragement was being given to private enterprise. “ The private builder,” he added, “ will be given a ver y great percentage of the material and man-power available and they will get a share of the timber from the camps to be demolished. We want to encourage them.”