BOARD AND HOUSING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6135, 12 September 1945, Page 4

BOARD AND HOUSING

INADEQUACY IN TE AWAMUTU CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONCERNED The inadequacy of boarding, accommodation and the lack of housing in Te Awamutu were subjects that were discussed at last night’s meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr W. Tootill, who raised the question, said that recently he advertised for employees, and practically all the applicants were married men, and there were no houses available in To Awamutu. There was no board to be obtained except bed and breakfast at a tariff that was prohibitive. .Plenty of labour would be obtained if board could be found. Could boardinghouse-keepers be compelled to provide full board ? He understood that they were licensed, and if so did that license mean that they had to provide board and meals ? With the bed-and-breakfast system it was costing all a man’s wages to live. The chairman (Mr L. G. Armstrong) said it was a matter of general interest.

Mr A. G. Warburton said the subject raised linked with transit camp housing, which he noted for discussion. The whole question of accommodation was just a bvyigle and from the returned soldier aspect it was tragic. The conditions under which some returned men lived were terrible, and shell-shocked men were affected by those conditions. Home life was being interfered with, and they were living under cruel conditions. At Cambridge the Borough Council had made a very worthy attempt to deal with the problem. It had raised money by contributions, and used its own reserves to erect a transit camp to meet the situation. Te Awamutu Borough Council had not met the situation. Any effort made to solve the housing and accommodation problem should be supported, for it was shameful to see men living under the present conditions. <

Mr Tootill said there were three boarding houses in Te Awamutu, and if they were licensed thciy should provide board. That those who lived under those conditions were just existing was the opinion of several members. Mr Tootill said that as employers were placed to-day they could not get labour because of the lack of accommodation. Mr F. Burke suggested a deputation waiting on the Borough Council as the matter was a serious one. Mr Tootill said if the private hotels provided three meals a day the position would be more satisfactory. The chairman took it that the conditions contained in the licenses entered into the discussion. Mr Tootill said that that was so. Mr F. J. Shearer said the position was general throughout New Zealand. The chairman referred to the difficulties regarding female labour. Before advertising for such it was necessary to make sure that board was available. Mr Warburton said while in Wellington he saw four army huts used as bedrooms, and they were quite nice. Mr A. C. Boyt wondered if the present trend in regard to the supply of meals was due to rationing. Mr K. S. Kelly said it was due to labour problems. Mr Warburton said that probably both labour and rationing entered into the question. He moved that the chairman interview the boardinghouse proprietors, wid, if (further deemed necessary, interview the Borough Council. He said that any efforts made to help the proprietors would in turn help the town. The chairman suggested that the boarding-house proprietors should be given the opportunity to state their case before the Chamber, as had the bakers on the question of the wrapping of bread. Mr Tootill suggested that if all things failed municipal dining rooms might be established. The question of housing was introduced, and Mr Warburton pointed out that the regulations had been expanded so that the War Assets Realisation Board could sell by direct contact to community institutions army huts. The Borough Council could get in touch with that Board. He understood Rukuhia Air Station was closing down. Mr .Burke asked if the Borough Council was interested in the subject. Mr Warburton pointed out the difficulties attached to local bodies embarking on a housing scheme. Mr Shearer suggested appealing -to those having accommodation available to make it known. Mr Burke agreed that the idea was a good one. It was resolved that the secretary should advertise such an appeal. At this stage the discussion turned to the alleged apathy of the Borough Council in many aspects, and the question of housing was discussed along lines already reported in similar discussions. It was eventually decided that a deputation, consisting of the chairman (Mr L. G. Armstrong) and Messrs F. Burke and W. Tootill, wait on the Borough Council to discuss with that body transit housing and allied problems. One member favoured municipalities being run by managers, not mayors and councillors, and another member agreed, instancing Thames borough, where a commissioner was put in, as an example.