HOMES FOR SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22606, 10 May 1945, Page 6

HOMES FOR SOLDIERS

REHABILITATION LEAGUE PLAN GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO ACT Discussing the problem of housing, Mr D. V. Bryant, chairman of the Rehabilitation Civic League, stated that he and Mr C. Flashoff, Dominon organiser of the league, had recently visited Auckland, where they found the hardships created by the shortage of houses much more serious than in Hamilton. As far as housing was concerned the position of .many people in Auckland could only be described as deplorable, and where these conditions applied to returned servicemen there was reason for very grave concern. The league’s representatives, while in Auckland, discussed the matter with several other organisations, and all were of the opinion that the position would be greatly relieved if the league’s request to the Government to amend the Fair Rents Act were granted. The proposed amendment would grant to householders who had unoccupied rooms in their homes, and who were willing to make them available to servicemen as a contribution in the housing emergency, the right to terminate the tenancy where such was proved to be necessary or desirable. All the organisations referred to were emphatically of the opinion that the present position was so serious that every avenue promising relief must be explored, and they knew of no other proopsal promising the same possibilities. Early Reply Promised Mr Bryant stated that he had been negotiating with the Government in this matter for some months, and he had been informed yesterday that it was now being considered, and a reply could be expected in the next few days. It was expected that the reply would be favourable, in which case the league would immediately launch a campaign throughout New Zealand, urging those persons having unoccupied rooms in their homes to make them available for the accommodation of servicemen. If the response is $s large as expected the general housing shortage would be relieved to some extent, and some repayment would have been made to servicemen for all they have done. Mr Bryant also stressed the necessity for the Government accelerating its housing programme and pointed out that the public, by postponing all unnecessary building or repair work involving the use of building material, could, by making all such materal available for the construction of new homes, assist greatly in solving the problem. He hoped that the people would help in the manner described, also that those in a position to do so would agree to house some of the homeless servicemen until such time as they can be provided with permanent homes.