TRANSIT HOUSING CAMP

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14367, 17 May 1947, Page 3

TRANSIT HOUSING CAMP

MAYOR DEFENDS PROJECT

People Provided With Roof Over Heads

Accommodation Shortage In Tauranga

A statement that the council had declared a state of emergency in connection with housing and had shown foresight in providing accommodation for people who were in desperate need of a roof over their heads, was made by the Mayor (Mr L. R. Wilkinson) when defending the expenditure on the transit housing camp, at the monthly meeting of the Tauranga Borough Council on Wednesday, evening. When drawing attention to the small credit balance in the general account and the fact that the estimates had to be taken into consideiation, Cr. A. Brewer asked what was the position with the transit camp.

The Mayor pointed out that the council had arrived at the position it had budgeted for. He was proud of the transit camp, and the council possessed a valuable asset, with revenue coining in all the time. Referring to the financial aspect, Cr. Brewer said that he was not happy about the position. The Mayor: The people who have a roof over their heads are quite happy. Cr. Brewer: That does not pay for them.

The Town Clerk (Mr R. B. Shearman) pointed out that statutory provision had been made for financing transit housing ventures out of overdraft. Owing to the £12,000 debit in the transit housing account, the balance showing in the current account was reduced. Later in the meeting the Mayor, when referring to the housing shortage in the district, reminded the council of the desperate situation a lot of people ,were still faced with in Tauranga. He considered that the women's dressing shed on the Domain, in view of the fact that other .building works were going on there, could be altered to house a family. The council decided, on the motion of the Mayor, that the building be made available for occupation by a family, the selection to be left to the Mayor and Cr. A. T. Stenhouse. The Mayor pointed out that some of • the letters received from families without homes were pathetic. A suggestion that the occupier of the Domain building could probably act as caretaker of the Domain was made by Cr. C. F. Washer.