Wellington's Empty Houses.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 20, 17 May 1911, Page 5

Wellington's Empty Houses.

Th* completed census returns tor th* city and *u burka of Wellington (excluaive of suburban boroughs, such as Miramar. Onslow, and Karori) showed that there were in all 13,963 inhabited houses, 936 uninhabited, and 77 ia course of erection. The Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilfordl somewhat mistrusted th* figures referring to uninhabited houses, and ordered the chief sanitary inspector (Mr. Jas. Doyle) to make a complete inspection of every street in Greater Wellington, with a view to testing the official returns. Mr. Doyle last week presented the Mayor with a detailed statement, covering 306 streets, which showed a total of 490 uninhabited houses including 167 in the outlying suburbs. Commenting on this statement. Mr. Wilford told a ’Post” reporter that it showed the census returns to be statistically incorrect, misleadiug, and utterly worthless in respect to empty houses in \\ elungton. This Mr. Doyle was prepared to prove to any official of the Census Department. Mr. Wilford further stated that many of the empty houses were old and dilapidated, and that very few well-built houses, fitted with modern conveniences, were without occupants. A total of 490 out of 13.054 dwelling was less than four per cent—not at all an alarming proportion.