HOUSING FOR EMPLOYEES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14299, 24 February 1947, Page 2

HOUSING FOR EMPLOYEES

COUNTY COUNCIL PROPOSAL DISCUSSED ' | MEETING OF OTUMOETAI RATEPAYERS Reference to the proposal of the Tauranga County Council to borrow a sum of money for the purpose of providing housing for some of its employees, was made at the annual meeting of the Otumoetai District Ratepayers' Association recently, by Mr S. T. A. Roberts. , "They want to buy land and build in yet they don't want us to go in," stated Mr Roberts, who further explained that the State did not provide housing for its employees. "I think Mr Roberts is mistaken there," replied Mr Rushton, a member of the council. He pointed out that the area where it was proposed to erect the houses was just outside the borough. It was the first, property outside the borougjti. The proposal was to build four houses, said Mr Rushton, who spoke, of the conditions in which some of the council's staff lived because of the housing shortage. The council, Mr Rushton declared, was up against a problem. It had to find houses or lose employees. The rent was to be one day's Avage. The proposal was chiefly for ' men who were skilled workers. Mr Roberts said he thought the area on which it was proposed to build the houses, was in the borough-. Mr Rushton stated that the property was on the county side of Courtney Road. The opinion that the loan should not be a charge or a temporary charge on the ratepayers, was voiced by Mr A. R. Brooker. The money should be obtained on the security of the land and buildings. The chairman (Mr N. Gibson) thought the question was just a technical one. One could not borrow on a security that was not then owned. The council did not own the land yet, and the only security it could put up was a special rate. Mr Brooker remarked that the council was in a position to strike these special rates. If this were done it would send the ratepayers bankrupt. Mr Rushton stated that not only the County Council but the Borough ♦Councii, Harbour Board and other local bodies operated on that system.