JERRY-BUILT HOUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 72, 24 March 1908, Page 6

JERRY-BUILT HOUSES.

TRADES COUNCIL A3TDTHE -BOROUGHS. • "V " : 5 The various Borough Councils' meetings last night received a circular letter from the Trades and JLabour Council requesting consideration of the building of houses of the-"jerry-built type." The communication stated that a delegate in ■the trade informed the Council that -the present system of jerry-built houses and the disgraceful timber used in a great -many buildings of this class, was an unspeakable fraud, and a standing menace to public health. The Council suggested that building inspectors keep the matter Tinder—notice, and that "a record of the used-in each .building be kept. - Hγ. Dimery objected to the tone of the letter, which looked as if the Trades Council was seeking to. dictate to the Council "what it? should; "do. If they thought their suggestion was necessary, let them send The . Council had confidence_in_its building inspectors, and wanted-no outside interference. He moved that the letter lie ;pn the table. ~-The-Mayor-thought- that the ~eonjcil~3md been aeteated—bv-the -best- - motives, believing tfiat~fhey were ~en-~ to protect the working classes. He suggested that the letter be sent to a committee for consideration. - ME Sebofield—was.not aware of any ■ to send -the-letterrtb a'lcommittee would .mean "-"a tacit admission that there was. The I Council had.confidence. jn it.s. building, inL'speCtor, the interference of:the iTrardes and Labour - Council "in the-management of its affairs. .; Mr. ~Wr S. Smith also held the opinion that the borough was free from jerrybuilt houses. Some were better than -others; but if a man- wanted to buy a i cheaply-constructed house, he should be given the opportunity. He would like - the Trades and Labour Council to. specify -jany building in Grey Lynn which was a -menace to health. - Mr. G. J- Garland, thought" that the -Trades-Council had. acted from the purest of motives, and he thought that :it was "up to" tfiem to take advice if it were offered. They should treat the writers more courteously than the motion suggested. Mr. A.-Ay Creamer; believed that there was something in the suggestion that a record should be kept of the class of timber used. The Mayor then moved that the letter be sent to the Finance Committee. This, however, was defeated, and Mr. Dimery's' motion was agred to. Discussing the subject at the Onehiinga Borough Council's meeting, Councillor Morton said he thought that they rare going too far;.they wanted brick louses for the same rent as wooden ones They would find out they would have to jay increased rents. Councillor Partington said there was not the slightest doubt that a number of houses were being built which, were nothing but swindles. The Mayor thought that the Trades and Labour Council was moving in the right direction. They had not yefc reached •that stage in Onehunga, but unfortunately some of the houses in Auckland were a disgrace, and were only erected lor some one to come along to buy" them -and fall in. On his motion the letter was received. The Trades and Labour Council's letter was also treated by the Parnell Council with the slightest consideration. It was lormally received.

I The Trades and Labour Council's let™,w D ° t ta^, en - seriously by the Newmarket Council. It was stated that there were no jerry-built houses in Newia^KsH^^ receive *•

' who so worthily represented the Dominion at important sports .gatherings at Hobart and Sydney re" horn/ W T a welcome home yesterday afternoon by the Wet bngton centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. Consrahilatpry speeches-^ere. de __ Tered X™ & T ; W - SPaSyor of WeUing! & P - nd the Ho *-' Geo. -Jowlds and ATessrs. -T.'-Af .Wilf™* '* £ tt Izard; Green, manager of the team, in ledgmg the expresaoas? at gie success of The team, suggested, that i.err and Murray should be sent to re- <; •present New Zealand at-.the Olympian \ ««:iso**ermnent might.help. - ~- —— 1.-.. . -- "..