View report page

126
SECTION D
Housing
Prior to 1939, housing difficulties had been encountered mainly
in the lower income groups and, until the Housing Act, 1949,
local authorities' housing powers were restricted to the benefit of
persons of the working class only. Today, all income groups are
concerned with this vital question of housing.
What is the essence of this perplexing "housing" problem?
Curiously enough it has different meanings for different people.
To some it is the continued existence of slums or the homeless in
Part III accommodation—to others it means heavy mortgage costs
or the exorbitant cost of building land. Again, to some it is
the lack of houses to rent and to others the shortage of accommodation
for our elderly folk. Obviously the problem is the sum
total not only of these points but also of a number of others such
as finance, materials, building resources and skills, etc. However,
in the final analysis, the problem as a whole, cannot be dealt with
in isolation but must be judged and afforded its rightful priority
in the light of the country's economic position. One thing is
certain and that is, if emphasis is laid upon one aspect of the
problem, then supporters of other views will consider it unjustified.
Nevertheless, that unsuitable housing conditions are responsible
for many of the smaller and some of the larger tragedies of
life, is beyond doubt. By reason of its importance in the field
of preventive medicine housing is, to a great extent, a public
health problem and responsibility. Indeed, the selection and
presentation of slum clearance areas is a vital duty of the health
department. Moreover, the provision of houses of good standard
is a prerequisite for the elimination of disease, mental and
physical, and a basis for the maintenance of a happy, contented
existence.
It would be wrong for anyone to predict that the housing
problem is one which will be solved easily and quickly—it is not
that kind of problem. Ever since the end of the 1914/18 war,
housing has been a major concern to local authorities especially
in urban areas and the second world war merely served to
aggravate an already difficult situation.
However, between the wars, the rate of house building, which
reached its peak in 1938, was sufficiently satisfactory to enable
slum clearance schemes to operate, but post-war conditions forced
a system of "repairs and maintenance" upon local authorities and,
inevitably, slum clearance plans had to be held in abeyance.