HOUSING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 3

HOUSING PROBLEM.

QUESTION BEFORE BOROUGH

COUNCIL

REPORT TO BE OBTAINED

His Worship the Mayor, Mr. C. H. Burgess, and Die town clerk, Mr. F. T. Bellringer, who attended the Town Planning Conference as representatives of the i\ew Plymouth Borough Council, submitted a brief report, to the council on Wednesday night, and attached thereto reports g .'iixg fairly full reports of the greater p irt of the proceedings. 'fixe delegates, However, made special reference to the housing problem' and tlxo provision of open spxxces and children's playgrounds as follows: HOUSING.

This question is without doubt the one requiring most immediate attention not only in New Plymouth, but in all parts of the Dominion. As will be seen from the reports attached the conference wore unanimous in their opinion that the question was really a national one, and that unless financial assistance was forthcoming from the Government local todies could net hope under the ah normal conditions at present obtaining to undertake housing schemes for their particular districts without incurring a very substantial annual loss. The Minister of Internal Affairs recognised this and undertook to place the recommendations of the conference before Cabinet as an urgent matter and not to wait for Parliament to meet. It is possible, therefore, that the Government decision in the matter may not be very long delayed. In the meantime, however, we recommend that a committee should bo appointed from the council to submit proposals in regard to building a number ot houses for the council’s own employees, _ several of Whom are at present experiencing great difficulty and inconvenience in regal'd to housing. Wo feel that if the council is to retain the services of its employees it must make provision for the housing of at least some of them, dealing with the most urgent cases first. By the time the report is submitted it is possible that the Government decision in regard to financial assistance may have been given, and the committee could then proceed to consider a more general scheme of housing. 'There was a brief discussion in regard to the above question, and a committee consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Hill, Griffiths, and Parkin, was appointed to go into details and report. ■ Councillor Hill was made convenor of the committee.

OPEN SPACES AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS.

This question was a very prominent one in the deliberations of the confer-

° n in regard to New Plymouth we feel that a number of small open spaces in the more thickly populated portions of tho borough would be a distinct advanNntwithstanding that New Plymouth is extremely fortunate in possessing largo parks, and seaside reserves we feel that it is veiy desirable that there should also bo a number of small playing grounds near to the homes of the people where the children could play after school hours. Tho existing parks are too far away from the homes of the people for this purpose and consequently the children at present are compelled to play in the streets. Wo suggest, therefore, that as a commencement a few scats, swings, etc., he placed in the following sections owned by the council and that a limited number of trees be planted if required near tho bonndarie,s of the sections leaving the greater portion of each section available for grassing down as a. playground :■ —• Part section 964, Cover Street; section 272 Powdorham Street. These are the only sections available at present, but later on it is quit© possible that sections 853, 854 and 868 Gill Street at present used as a borough yard may not bo required for this purpose everything being concentrated at the Lemon Street yards. If this eventuates the sections in question should be set aside as a children’s playground in a similar way to the other sections mentioned. Wo also recommend that from time to time as opportunity offers one section at least should he acquired in every thickly populated street and set aside as a playing ground. The cost may be considerable, but it will bo spread over a period of years, and the benefit to tho community will bo incalculable. In reference to this question Ins Worship intimated that with the council’s consent Mrs. Burgess and himself would prefer to spend his honorarium on the two sections mentioned instead of _ on the section opposite the railway station. They felt it would be devoting the money to a more useful purpose, especially in view of the fact that if a town hall was erected the suggested expenditure for improving the property at the present time would probably be wasted.) Mr. Burgess stressed the importance of providing playing grounds for children, and said that in the more thickly populated areas the tendency was for children to play on the streets, which was extremely dangerous nowadays in view of the large amount of motor traffic.

TOWN-PLANNING ASSOCIATION. It is very desirable that a local townplanning association should be formed in New Plymouth upon the lines indicated by Mr. "Hurst Seager during his recent visit. The Mayor therefore proposes at the earliest opportunity to convene a meeting of those interested in order that such an association may bo established.