MUNICIPAL HOUSING.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16963, 12 October 1920, Page 6

MUNICIPAL HOUSING.

TENDER ACCEPTED,

Tho following tenders for tho erection of workers' homes on the ■ - Council's land in Huxley stree > onham, have been received by Messrs Grcenstrcet and Anderson: Tvpe 1. Tvpo 3. Typ* S. Total. £ £ * . 1. Walter Hayes 0501 £. X. McGiilivruy llf ' 15 t., c.to.i 3.G. L. Bull - noo 1232 J. A. Renin? .. IOGo 11 2 5. A. T. Mutton 106 i lg . 6. C. E. Wripht K0 10" 100 l 7. A. F. W. Jonca MO 10.0 11-* Tenders 1, 3, J. -^tb ioct to an increase to corros;l< nd * itu an increase _in the -cost o attached material. No stipulation a\ • < to tender s."while tender O was not 51 tS H™ s r»s n C=H«cc TT^ Cr. J. W. Uennland, who mo\ed tin. acceptance of the tender, said the prices were a little higher tfoan exported, b it thev were the best that could bo obtained. Practically everything necessarv for a well-appointed houso was Pr Tho d motion for the acceptance of the tender was seconded by Cr. A. »»- liams. ~ , „ Cr A. MeKeltar said he was disappointed at the prices A large NortU Island contractor had mionuod him that a number of five-roomed houses were beine built- at Taupiri at from £500 to £GOO each. Cr. Bennland said the houses built, by the Wellington City Council cost from £1-100 to £1700 each. He did not loxpect any cheapening of building material for the next two years. Or. Agar said it would he better to accept tfio tender by C. E. Wright oi' £818-5, fixed price. Cr. Beanland said that point had been considered by the committee, but it was held that it would not bo fair to the lowest tenderer, subject to increase, if another, not so subject, wore accepted and then increased to correspond with increase in the cost' of material and labour.

Cr. Agar moved an amendment that the tender of C. E. Wrigjht be accepted. Cr. 11. F. Herbert, who seconded the amendment, said that Mr Wright had all the material ready, and would only havo power to claim anything extra for an increase in tho cost of labour.

Cr. H. T. Armstrong urged; that tho Council should carry out tho work itself.

Cr. F. A. Cooke said the Government wero erecting five-roomed houses at £750 oach.

Cr. C. S. Harper said that he would vote for the amendment, if it was understood that Wright got nothing beyond the contract price. Cr. Herbert said no understood that a contractor had the power to increase his price should the Arbitration Court raise wages. The Council divided, nnd a motion for tho acceptance of Mr Wright's tender was carried by nine votes to five.

Cr. J. A. Flesher moved a further amendment: "That tho question of accepting tenders for the municipal housing be postponed-for six months." He said the need Tor houses was beinp overtaken, and tho Council had no right to pay the prices proposed when tho Government" could erect houses for £750. The cost of repayment under the Council's scheme would be altogether too much for tho ordinary man to pay. The cost would bo at least 30s per week, and the question was whether tho people could afford to pay that sum. Cr. Bnanland: People are doing it every day. Cr. Flesher: Yes, and they can throw up the place any time. The amendment was not seconded.

Cr. H. Hunter urged that the Council should do the construction work itself. He moved that a report on the matter be procured from the city surveyor. Cr. Agar said that if the Council rejected the motion for the acceptance of the tender of C. E. vvright, it would mean that "the architect's fees would have to bo paid, and the cost to the Council would be £-124, and nothing to show for it. Cr. Hunter's amendment was not. seconded, and the motion for the acceptance of the tender of C. E. "Wright was carricd on the voiccs.