TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays MONDAY, 25th FEBRUARY, 1946 EVEN A TEMPORARY HOME

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6198, 25 February 1946, Page 4

TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays MONDAY, 25th FEBRUARY, 1946 EVEN A TEMPORARY HOME

TIME serves to intensify rather than to ease the housing demand in Te Awamutu, and from a position of acute shortage a condition of extreme hardship is being experienced by all too many people; and no section of the community suffers greater privation than the ex-servicemen. This should not be, and must not much longer be allowed to continue. Instances are frequent otf men who have been encouraged to expect that security would be preserved for them finding, on their return to civil life, that not only has no provision been made but that nothing adequate is in prospect for the future. The extreme of domestic privation is all that awaits them, and we see these men and their families crowded in a solitary one-room on what amounts almost to sufferance, or in occupation of a shed or garage converted into an improvised dwelling; and, in many instances, young couples forced to live apart because not even shed room can be had. Little wonder that a serious domestic problem is developing and that the disquiet may be calculated to bring more serious consequences in the future. Private building and State activity’ are continuing in an effort to face the demands, but the considerations of supply’ determ ne the speed of all endeavours; and. as everybody knows, the pace is dishearteningly slow. The builders are confronted with too many handicaps, far and away’ beyond their ability to remove; the flow of supply is controlled by’ the flood-gates of policy’ which operate adversely'. But it is apparent that something will have to be done, and soon; and it is for the community to accept the responsibility. In many’ other centres temporary • housing schemes have been adopted either under local body direction or by’ systems of voluntary collective finance and endeavour. But Te Awamutu has not yet registered any’ signs of activity. Perhaps many people await leadership and inspiration from the local body; in that case there are occasion and scope for leadersh’p. The time is opportune, even if it is overdue, for the councillors to initiate some form of collective action, for it is known that some de'ence buildings near at hand W’ill shortly become available. In no direction and to no better purpose could the Borough Council and all associated public institutions prove their worth than by’ the organisation and carry’-through of a temporary housing programme. In justice to the men, action is due; more than that is the discharge of a public responsibility’ wh’ch no one can deny.