MUNICIPAL HOUSING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16822, 21 August 1920, Page 3

MUNICIPAL HOUSING.

THE WELLINGTON FIASCO. DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL. Tho fact that only a handful of applications were received by tho 'Wellington City Council in connection witn its repent ballot for tho first two houses competed under tho municipal Bousing scheme was the subject of considerable discussion at Wednesday night’s meeting of tho council. In moving tho adoption of the Housing Committee’s report giving the result _of tlie baliot, Councillor Wright (chairnan of the committee) stated that for the Government houses at Miramar some 300 applications had been received. He put this preference for the Government houses down to the fact that they wore built with smaller rooms, and were generally a cheaper class of house; further, that the applicant had to put down a deposit of only £lO, ns against £SO in the case of tho council’s houses. Then, again, tlie restrictions imposed by the council doubtless reduced the number of applicants. The council had cut out of the ballot any people with money. - The newspapers, in commenting on the small number of applicants, seemed to think that there must be something radically wrong somewhere. Ho wished to say, however, that the council’s hands were absolutely clean. Pie was quite satisfied that the council was not charging too much, and that it was erecting first-class houses. If it were found later on that tho council’s policy required alteration, tho matter would doubtless be considered. Councillor Wright then gave a progress report on the building operations, stating that two houses Vvei'o completed, two others were nearly completed, and five others were >n various stages of construction. Councillor J. M. Dale remarked that he did not tlijnk the position showed that there wjiis something radically wrong. On tho contrary, it pointed to the fact that conditions were radically right in that the council had eliminated- the “speculator” from among® the applicants. Councillor L. M'Kenzio said that from inquiries he had made he was convinced that plenty of people refrained from applying as they thought the ballot would be so rushed by v applicants that they would not stand a chance. Councillor J. Hutchison thought that the Housing Committee ought to give some expression of opinion on the situation, because to go on building and to get such very poor response from the homeless was not very encouraging io the council. Ho was inclined to think that the public regarded the houses as too costly and the deposits as too large. Councillor T. Forsyth said he sincerely hoped that tlie council was not going to lower tho standard it had sot in connection with its housing scheme. There were plenty of cheap bouses going up to-day, and in this, connection he referred to the railway dwellings at Kaiwana. He hoped that the council would not take these buildings as a model.

Councillor W. H. Bennett, in commending the council’s policy, pointed out that the houses were constructed of the best material, and tho best of workmanship had been put into them. Councillor C. H. Chapman deprecated any suggestion that the council should lower its building standard. He suggested various ways in which the Government might assist tho council, and thus lower the cost of building. The Mayor pointed out that tho council had only just touched th e fringe of its housing activities, and he was not at all deterred because of the scarcity of applications. The conned had gone in for a very good class of house with largo sections. As to the question of Government assistance, he mentioned that the State was advancing money for tho housing scheme at 4-J per cent. Whatever the price of money, the State would not change local authorities more than 4-i per cent, for housing loans. This was a substantial concession. The council should not be deterred by the recent ballot. The payment of a deposit of £SO might bo a deterrent to quite a number of people, but he emphasised that tho council was out to make “a strong and solid proposition.” The report of the committee was then adopted.