The Waikato Times. With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1923. THE HOUSING QUESTION.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15211, 12 April 1923, Page 4

The Waikato Times. With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1923. THE HOUSING QUESTION.

At a meeting of the Council of Christian Churches held in Auckland the question of housing was considered, and instances of the mosi appalling nature were given of overcrowding and the evils which result therefrom. Everyone has known in a general way that such evils existed, and were rather increasing than otherwise, but nevertheless it is well that the details should be brought prominently before the public, that opinion may be stirred, and no one left with the excuse of ignorance. The sad part of the business is that there is no immediate remedy in sight, and that there is a great likelihood that heroic measures may do more harm than good. The evil is primarily due to war, but has been made worse than it need have been by the action of Governments; our Government, and that of many other countries. The legislation which limited rents was an injustice, and led to fewer houses being built. The legislation which prevented an owner obtaining possession of a house which he had bought operated in the same direction. The legislation has been modified, but credit was shaken, and does not quickly revive. The moratorium diverted money from mortgages, and added another difficulty, and as if these were not enough the tariff on imported timber, oement and builders' ironmongery has been maintained, and sometimes increased. These are heavy indictments of the Government, and Local Bodies have lent their assistance to make building difficult. In too many instances they do all in their power to prevent the erection of houses that come within the means of any working man. They all wish to have their areas occupied by the most elaborate and expensive dwellings. It is a species of collective snobbery on which many men plume themselves. There are many agencies working to make house accommodation expensive, and nobody is prepared with any scheme which should have the contrary effect. Mr C. F. Bennett,' who introduced the question to the Council of Churches, made several suggestions that are well worLhy of consideration, and show more grasp of the subject than is commonly found. He advocated the granting of greater facilities on the railways for suburban transit; the enlargement of the Advances to Settlers Scheme; the removal of tariff restrictions on the importation of cement, Umber, etc., and the encouragement of cutting up land for closer settlement. These are practical measures which would all assist in reducing prices, and it would be well if the public could concentrate on the demand for legislation in this direction. The railways have never done as much as they might to encourage suburban settlement. In Auckland settlement followed, the tram lines until the congestion grew excessive, and then crossed the harbour, and proceeded to St. Heliers Bay and that direction. During the process nothing was done by the railways to provide facilities for the people or to tap a profitable source of revenue. This is not so much the fault of departmental officials as of successive Railway Ministers and Governments who have been blind to their duties. Some assistance might be given by railways, but the amount will be 'limited until provision is made for suburban traffic on ampler lines. The Advances to Settlers Scheme is a good one theoretically; and enquiry should be made whether it is answering its purpose. The removal of tariff restrictions is a reform we have often urged; but governments arc much readier to impose duties than to remove them, even when the revenue derives little benefit from the imposition. At bottom the iiousing difficulty is a 'question of money, and the policy pursued in all cases has been directed to the keeping up of prices. The result in this instance has been deplorable from the point of view of morality or humanity. It, was pointed out by several speakers at the meeting that young people could not be brought up decently in a h i re which consisted of one room for father, mother and children. We must realise that wc have in our midst the slum conditions that have disgraced the big cities of Europe and America, and that these will not be prevented by laws and regulations. Steps must be taken to make it possible for people of smal'. means to purchase houses. When that has been done there will remain some who have no ambitions towards a home of their own. Such people are commonly very bad tenants of another man's house, and discourage anyone who might be prepared to build and let. As a mailer of fact nobody ever thinks of doing so, as in addition to the troubles with tenants, Iherc is always the fear that legislation similar to that of the last few years might be repeated. For those w.io j'jumot buy muses even when assistance has been given, something in the nature of terraces, bui.t of concrete, should be provided, and this must fall on the Government cr on loca. bodies. The provision of a separate house and allotment should he the aim: it is not the most economical, and entails many expenses which arc not apparent first sight. II is, however, very much better from the point of view of home than terraces or combined dwellings of any lend. FjOdgings and hoarding houses provide the worst accommodation for married couples ami families, and that is the method to which thousands of people are driven al the present lime. The position is not improving, for we are not. building enough houses in Now Zealand for the natural increase of population. The p.f£i>r| on national character is bad and will grow worse.

Legislation lias created some of the difficulties and perpetuated others, and this at least can be remedied. Philanthropy, if it exists, should take the form of building societies, where a more intimate knowledge of the circumstances would make it possible to advance money in cases where a Government department could not do so. Even if an effort be made to cope with ■the evil it will be years before it is overcome, and so far whatever has been done has been in the direction of increasing the difficulty.