THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 23

THE HOUSING PROBLEM.

CONFERENCE IX THE TOWN lIALL. Theve was a large and representative gathering present at a conference in the Town Hall on Thursday to discuss the housing question. Representatives were present from the Dunedin City Council, Otago Hospital Board, the Otago Harbour Board, the Otago Labour Council, the Women Citizens’ Association. the National Council of Women, the Builders’ Association, the Architects’ Association, and others, about 70 persons being present. The Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley), who presided, stated that he was pleased to see, as the outcome of an invitation sent out to local bodies, that there had been such a hearty response. He would mention that the meeting had been called by himself as the outcome of a letter received from the secretary of the Otago Trades and Labour Council (Mr L. F. Evans), asking that the question be discussed at a meeting. He thought that as head of the Dunedin City Council he had a right to let them know what the council Was doing in the matter. He knew that a number of people had become restive at the long delay, but he could assure them that the council had been in earnest over the question for a long time. About four or five years ago the council purchased 46 sections at the Marne settlement, above the Woodhaugh quarry. The drainage and roading had been put in, but a great deal of controversy had been rife over the position of the sections. Tenders had been called for the election of the buildings, but, owing to the high "rices, the project had to be postponed. It was recognised that the sections were unsuitable for workers’ dwellings, as a man receiving £3 or £4 per week, and with a wufe and family to keep, could not, on top of that, pay tram fares It was for this reason that the council thought it better to acquire land in the city, and thus avoid the necessity of asking workers to nee the trams. That was the reason the Maori Hill sections had been left until the present time. Continuing, the Mayor said it would probably have been noticed that the council had decided to lease the sections by public tender. There was no doubt that the workers were willing to go to the salubrious part of Maori Hill,, and the council, by leasing the sections at reasonable prices—they would be leasehold sections—would enable them to put up buildings and negotiate for a mortgage over the section. These sections were to be put up to public tender forthwith, and if they could have 46 dwellings erected there it was going to relieve the housing shortage. It was the object of the council to have more houses provided in the city, but the question was one of supply and demand. One thing he Would stress in the letting of houses, and it was. unfortunately, a matter which was only too common. They were always en couraging the people to bring children into the world, yet landlords refused to take in people with children, and gave preference to single men. A Voice: They should be deported. The Mayor went on to say that the Government was carrying out the Advances to Settlers Act, but there had been so many applications that they were dealt with very slowly. In September last the City Council knew that applicants had been experiencing trouble in getting loans, and it applied to the department for a loan of £IOO,OOO in order that it could advance money to those who wanted it. It was not until February, 1524. that the council received a loan, but it was then only £SOOO. In reply to inquiries, he had received a communication from the Hon. W. Downie Stewart to the effect that it would he some months before the remainder of the loan could be found owing to the thousands of applications already received. That was the position tegarding the council’s efforts in getting the morey. There were a number of applications in for loans, and the council intended to make a careful selection and give the advances to the men with the largest families. Apart from this, the City Council had appointed a sub-committee to go into the matter and report at the next meeting.

It was probable that the council would Boon commence building operations on Shingle Reserve, between Clyde and Leith streets, where it was proposed to erect seven houses for letting at a reasonable rent. Plans of the class of house to be built there passed round for inspection. This was a beginning, but the council intended going further. The question of housing was a difficult one, and before the council could start building at a price which would mean a return, it would be necessary to place the matter before the ratepayers. The responsibility would be with them, and he thought they would recognise the gravity of the position and do all they could. There was then to be considered the people in the slum areas of Dunedin, and this was a burning question. He bad visited an area in Cumberland street in company with Ensign Coombs, and the conditions there were indescribable. A man bad died in one of the places which was absolutely filthy. It was the man’s own fault, but a system of inspection should be started —(applause)—and people found living under such conditions as he had witnessed should be taken away. The whole area visited must have been poisoned by the atmosphere of the places he saw. He quite understood that theso people did not want to leave the only homes they had and go to some more suitable homo, and it was not until some provision was made elsewhere that the slum houses could he demolished, but the particular places he had seen should be pulled down. Tie thought that tenement houses in which the occupants could have one room each would be one way of meeting the position. They bad a great difficulty before them, but if they could persuade the other local bodies to assist it would be a good thing. He was glad to see that the Harbour Board was going to build houses, and he thought the foreshore a suitable place. The Otago Hospital Board had a great deal to do with the poor, and be was of the opinion that it could also give a helping hand. In conclusion, Mr Tapley mentioned that the Auckland City Council had embarked on a housing scheme, and would hand over the houses at a small rental. It was something after this style that was required in Dunedin. —(Loud applause.) Mr P. Nielson, president of the Otago Trades and Labour Council, said the Mayor had practically admitted the conditions which the Trades and Labour Council knew existed in this city. It was desirable that a committee should be set up to consider •nd carry out the City Council’s scheme.

Ho thought it desirable that the citizens should be asked to sanction a loan of £IOO,OOO. The Trades and Labour Council believed with the Mayor that there were areas which could be secured for the purpose of building houses. lie contended that the tramways should be extended first, and houses would follow.—(Loud applause.) In this connection he instanced Island Bay, in Wellington, where the tramways had preceded building, and the scheme had been a pronounced success. It was in that respect that our Dunedin City Council had failed. —(Labour “Hear, hears.”) With the erection of the Exhibition buildings, matters would not l>e improved—in fact, the housing difficulty would be greatly accentuated. Houses would have to be pulled down in connection with the Exhibition scheme which would otherwise be available. This was not a local question; it was an international one. (Applause.) The health of the community was so closely interwoven with the housing difficulty that they could not be dissociated.—(Applause.) Mr C. Moss asked if it were possible for the municipality to raise money for the housing scheme. He recognised that <-v must have money as a means to an end. The Mayor said the council could obtain money only by means of a poll. Mr Moss said he .felt that the meeting that night: was sincere in its endeavour to remedy the housing problem, and thus alleviate the prevailing distress. He moved— That this meeting, which was representative of the various public bodies in the city, considers that the lime has arrived when the Municipal Council should raise a loan of. £IOO,OOO to be used in conjunction with the £SOOO already promised by the Government, and in the manner laid down in the scheme adopted by the City Council, and that a committee be set up to deal with the matter forthwith. He contended that it was the duty of the City Council to do everything possible to build homes for the people. He regretted to have to sa- it, but the fact remained that there was a section of the people of this city who were out to thwart the object which the Labour Party and others had in view. This section of the community realised that the fewer the houses available the greater the value of the existing homes in pounds, shillings, and pence. Unfortunately they had a Government in power which was not helping matters. There should be no difficulty in raising a loan by a vote of the people. Mr H. V. Freeman seconded the motion. He referred to the Balmaeewen settlement. He contended that the reason this had been a failure was not so much from the point of view of the value of the sections as the class of architecture suggested. The cost of the foundations, too, was excessive. In some instances the foundations would require to have been from 10 feet to 15 feet high which meant that the foundations would have run into one-third of the total cost of house. Then there was the size of the rooms. No one wanted a 16ft room. A worker did not want a ballroom. Speaking as one who was associated with the building trade, he knew that the kitchen accommodation was one of the weak points cf their present-day architecture. The working man’s wife did not want a kitchenette; she wanted a gooct-sized room in which she could do her work. Another drawback of present-day plans was the insufficiency of passageway accommodation. No woman cared to live in a house where she had to pass through one room to get to another part of the house. He thought they should build at least 100 houses to start with. —(Applause.) Mr H. Mandeno said he was speaking on behalf of the architects, who all recognised that the housing question was a grave one, especially for the man earning only £3 or £4 per week. He would like to know what areas were available for building on, and he agreed with the previous speaker that to do any good they would have to build at least 50 houses. With regard to the advance by the Government, he did not know whether they would get the best results from such a course.

Mr Moss: I rise to a point of order, sir. I want Mr Mandeno to realise that before we can get to the matter of building we must get the money. The Mayor asked Mr Mandeno to keep to the point. Continuing, Mr Mandeno said it seemed to him futile to attempt to build unless the houses could be let at a low rental. In conclusion, lie would say that the architects were willing to assist even to the extent of contributing a building scheme, which would be handed over to the council to be worked as thought fit. —(Applause.) Mr J. M'Donald, on behalf of the Otago Harbour Board, said it was recognised that the housing question was a serious one, and Hie matter had been discussed by the board. The trouble regarding the hoard's sections on the foreshore was that it would be too expensive to build. The Harbour Board Act provided that the board could build for its own use. but he would like to see it altered so that buildings could be erected for others. ITe suggested that they should get away from the continual ci'v of the workers, and make it houses "for Ihe people.—(“ Hear, hear.”) The £SOOO received by the council was a mere bagatelle, and not worth considering. He was surprised at the modesty of the resolution, and thought £IOO,OOO was little enough to ask for. The scheme proposed by Mr Moss did not appeal to him, and he suggested that it was the people without money who should he assisted. He thought it would be better to appoint a committee from among those present at the meeting, and ho would be glad to lay down a scheme. Nothing went so far or added so much to the revenue of a city as the building of houses. Ho was sure everyone was in earnest, and would do sornetliing to help in the matter. Mr S. Boreham said lie agreed with the last speaker, and every person in the city, whatever his position, should be deeent.lv housed. The amount suggested in the* motion would not relieve the position, and they had to do something more to stop the aggravation. Every day unfortunate people were reaching the dominion, and they came to places where there were no houses, and they consequently became stranded. It was these people thev had to assist. He submitted that the houses being built at present were not suitable for the working man, and suggested that before the meeting dispersed it should carry a resolution asking the Government to defer the immigration policy until matters improved. Mr F. Jones said he agreed with Mr M‘Donald's remarks, and would suggest that Mr Moss embody in his resolution the setting ud of a committee from the meeting to go into the question and report back to

the council. They could then deal with the financial question Mr Moss said that as far as he was concerned ho only wanted to see something done. There were three ways cf getting money—through the Government, the City Council and by private enterprise. The question had been before them for five years. The town was lagging behind, and the council had been muddling the whole thing. Homes had been demolished and people herded together like cattle, and he wanted to see houses going up. Mr Boreham asked for a reply to the question asked. The Mayor requested Mr Mess not to make a speech, but to state whether he would alter his motion. Mr (Moss said he would agree to do so, but it would be under protest, for the simple reason that, if they secured a loan of £IOO,OOO it would mean that something had been done. As long as they put it off the worse it would be. Mr J. E. MncMamis said that in view of the fact that all bodies were represented it was a question that concerned more than the City Council. The Charitable Aid Board was spending £53 in rents each week, and it was obvious that it would be possible to capitalise this. To relieve the position it was essential that more houses should be built. Mrs Leech asked the Mavor on what conditions the suggested £IOO,OOO would be lent out. The Mayor said the idea was that the sum mentioned would be lent cut on the same terms as it was proposed to lend the £SOOO already promised. The borrower would find 5 per cent, arid the Government would advance 95 per cent. The Mayor suggested that a small committee should he set up. He did not think the motion moved bv Mr Moss quite met the wishes of those present. After some further', discussion Mr Jones said the committee’s bands should not be tied. A committee should be set up to consider the whole matter. In reply to the Mayor, Mr Moss said he adhered to his motion. Mr S. Boreham then moved as an amendment : “That a committee he set up from those present to consider the best means of dealing with the housing problem, with a view to making representations to the City Council ” This was seconded by Mrs Leech. Mr Moss said that if the committee as suggested by the mover of the amendment were set lip it could only suggest the means by which the money would be raised. Several of the proposals suggested would only cause delay. If £IOO.OOO could be raised 140 homes could be built, which would be a help. Cr J. E. MacManus said that if the motion were carried it would not assist the people who could not help themselves. The amendment, on being put to the meeting, was carried with a few dissentient voices. The 'amendment was then put as the substantive motion, and was carried unanimously. The following committee was then appointed in accordance with the motion: Mesdarnes Leech. Bidte. Tapley, and Mayor, Misses Runciman and AFCartbv. and Messrs D. Larnach. P. Ncilson, J. M'Donald, IT. Mandeno, T. Scott, W. E. S. Knight, E. Anscombe, C. Moss, C. Anderson, F. Jones, and Major Burton. Mr Anscombe suggested that representatives from the Manufacturers’ Association arid the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce should l>e appointed. The Mayor said these bodies should be asked to nominate representatives to the committee. The meeting closed with the customary vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, and the committee held a preliminary meeting.