Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1935. DOOM OF THE SLUMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18595, 4 January 1935, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 1935. DOOM OF THE SLUMS

One of the finest things about tho recovery movement now so steadily progressing in Britain is that it is accompanied by definite plans of social betterment, the execution of which, indeed, is helping considerably to stimulate the movement. We refer particularly to slum clearance. Tho slums are a legacy of a past age of indifference, rapacious ness, tliriftlesssess, and drift, but happdv the public conscience in these days has been aroused to appreciate the importance to the nation of having its people well-housed and living in comfortable, healthful, and pleasant surroundings. Groat Britain lias given the world leadership in housing reform. State-encouraged or assisted housing dates back to the later years of last century. It is only in recent years, however, that the work has assumed magnitude. When the. war ended there was a serious shortage of houses. Rents, though controlled by law. were high; in both English and Scottish cities there was scandalous overcrowding. Government policy ■rapidly passed through several phases, subsidies being offered to private builders, public utility societies and local authorities. The first subsidy scheme proved so costly that, after two years, it was abandoned. From 1019 to 10:12 direct subsidies were continued in various forms. Approximately half the houses built were subsidised, the total of Treasury subsidies and contributions from local rates during that period being £ 150,000,000 and the continuing annual charge £10,000,000. Local bodies borrowed" some £400,000,000 to finance their own building schemes and to assist private construction. Under this stimulus an enormous number of new houses were provided. In less than 15 years nearly 2,500,000' houses were built —a stupendous national achievement. This, however, had but touched the fringe of the problem which British self-respect had begun to regard as vital to national wellbeing. The order went forth that the slums were to be cleared and overcrowding prevented. To this policy the National Government litis definitely committed itself. “The task which the housing administration of the country will be called upon In perform/’ said Sir Hilton Young, the 'Minister for .Health, the other day, “is a very great one. Successfully achieved it will mean a permanent raising of our standard ol civilisation.’’ At present Stale activity is directed mainly to the clearance of slums and tho correction of overcrowding. A survey has been made by local authorities of the number of slum houses that must be replaced and cst.imutes tire being prepared of the lumber of families living in over-

crowded conditions for whom better accommodation is needed. According to present plans during the next five years 280,000 houses will bo swept away and 204,000 homes erected for (he families so displaced. The big provincial cities arc working in full harmony with the Ministry. Their schemes have been boldly conceived and are being pushed forward with great vigor, with the result that the activity of the building industry lias become a great factor in trade recovery. The Government intends to pass legislation in the present session of Parliament to further stimulate the campaign. Its proposals were recently described by Lord Halifax as a scheme for rehousing and replanning on a scale which is has never before been possible to contemplate and of a kind that neither Great Britain nor any other country lias yet undertaken. The main features of the measure are as followvs: The Government will lay down a standard ,of overcrowding. After a fixed date overcrowding in excess of this standard will be made illegal. After a national survey of the need for new houses to fulfill this standard, local authorities will be required to .provide them at appropriate rents. They will be given powers to acquire and redevelop the inner areas of industrial towns and .where necessary to rehouse the overcrowded population 'in well-plan-ned blocks of modern flats. TheGovernment, will provide whatever help is necessary in the form of Exchequer subsidies. A Housing Council will bo set up to advise the Ministry of Health and to direct the activity of public utility societies and housing associations. “To get rid of the slums and overcrowding,” declared Sir Hilton Young, “we must attack them directly—pull them down and decrowd the ■ overcrowded houses.” The Government, he said, would provide a standard of overcrowding, which would provide for the separation of the sexes over 10 years of ago and sufficient space for all, and the housing authorities would be required to provide the necessary additional accommodation, for which financial help would be given. Roughly it is intended to provide up to 1,000,000 new urban and rural dwell-

ings or flats, to be let. at. reasonable rentals, ranging from 10s to 12s a week. It; is not enough that a family should be put into a good house at an appropriate rent. The house must be well used, and to ensure this management commissioners will be appointed. Sir Hilton Young said he had been pleasantly surprised by the prompt reaction of transferred tenants to their better environment. The percentage of relapses had not been more than !> per cent. “We afe trying to do in five years,” he added, “what successive Governments have been unable to do in sixty. For the first time in this country ono can positively say that the end of the slum problem is in sight.” In confirmation let us quote Father Martin dale, whose parish includes Poplar, one of the slum areas of London, now visiting Melbourne for the Eucharistic Conference. “There is a spirit of quiet confidence in England. It is noticeable even in the slums. Most people seem to be happier as the days go on. I am confident that in the near future the slums of England will begin to disappear.”