NURSERY RHYMES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 7

NURSERY RHYMES.

AND STATE HOUSES. DEVONPORT CEREMONY. FIRST TENANTS INSTALLED. At the installation of the first tenants in the cew Government houses in Niccol Avenue, Dcvonport, this morning, Mr. F. W. Schramm, in complimenting the Government on ite housing policy and referring to the part played by the Under-Secretary for Hotising. Mr. John A. Lee. said that as time went on tlio houses would be known as the '"Houses that Jack" built." In all, the Government proposes to build at present some HO unit* in Devonport, of which 37 are in Xiccol and Handley Avenues. For the first time this morning Xo. 27 in the former avenue was officially occupied. Mr. Schramm unlocked the front door and bade the occupiers. Mr. and Mrs. B. R. S. Rutledge. enter and make it their home. Mr. Rutledse. who is traffic inspector to the Dcvonport Borough Council, had a somewhat embarrassing experience before he was officiallv installed. Changing of Clothes. j Before the ceremony a crowd of interested spectators gathered in the street in front of his home, and a number actually entered. That was not objected to: but the trouble was that Mr. Rutledge was at that moment trying to change into his official garb, and he had to station a sentry, or perhaps a traffic "cop," ortside his door to wave '"traffic" on while he changed. I The Mayor of the borough. Mr. H. F. ' W. Me'.kle. welcomed the visitors, which included Mr. A. Tyndall, Director of Government Housing Construction, Messrs. Schramm and Lee, and members of the Boroutrh Council. He was not concerned with the politics of the Government. the Mayor said, but anybody who had tried to raise the standard of housing in the Dominion had accomplished something. Good houses were the foundation of a happy family life, and that was the foundation of everything the people held sacred. The borough had been favoured in that one of itA own citizens was occupying the first house. He wished Mr. and Mrs. Rutledge all happiness in their new home. '"I do not know of a happier location for tl>3 Government's houses." remarked Mr. Lee in a hanpv speech. He admitted the debt of the Government to the council. The number that the Government proposed for that locality was not the finish; but it was not possible to ' 'build faster than craftsmen and materials were available. " Years to Rebuild New Zealand." ; "It will take years to rebuild New Zealand," Mr. Lee continued. The Government wanted to wipe out slum areas. He envissged work for New i Zealanders in building houses for years to come. The State Housing Depart- j ment was turning out one house every 40 minutes, but for each of those minutes he received applications for houses. Mr. Schramm pointed out that the Government's housing policy differed materially from that of the private landlord. The latter asked if the applicant had any children. If he had, then that practically ended the matter. The . Government, on the other hand, gave ' men and women with children first i preference. . !

He, with Mr. Lee, congratulated the first tenant and wished them (rood fortune. Mi*. Schramm thereupon turned I the key in the lock of the front door, i | About 150 interested spectators gathered | to see the ceremony.