PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22245, 14 January 1944, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION

CURRENT VIEWPOINTS EXPERIMENT IN HOUSING (To the Editor) Sir,—Your description of a fourroomed house erected in 10 days at a cost of £675 is interesting in view of shortage of houses in Hamilton and most other towns. The subject of housing was recently discussed by the Hamilton Borough Council, which proposes to take further action. It would be useful if the council made a thorough inquiry into the Tisdale Street house to discover whether it could serve as a model for further building. Presumably the Government will not be particularly interested in the house because houses of the Government’s own standard are being built at something like double the cost — with the cost of the section added. The public also will not want to see the towns cluttered xvith houses that arc not of a reasonable standard. But the need is dire and this building plan seems to warrant the most careful investigation. Whether the cost of building State houses is warranted or not the writer is convinced that the Government was wise in setting a reasonably high standard. The test of the State houses will come when the new bloom is gone from them. If the siting and quality of construction were not carefully considered large concentrations of small houses would | develop into less desirable suburbs. But the fact remains that the costs j and rentals of State houses have been i extremely disappointing to thousands ; of people who had hoped to see the | problem solved by the Government I scheme. State houses should not be j accepted as the final and only answer I to the househunter’s prayer.—l am, ! etc., DOMICILE.