Mr Nash Visits Kaiapoi Pensioners’ Cottages

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 14

Mr Nash Visits Kaiapoi Pensioners’ Cottages

“They are more than houses: they are homes. I would be happy to retire into any one of them,” said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) during a visit to pensioners' cottages in Hilton street. Kaiapoi. yesterday. “I don’t know where I would put my books —I would probably need three of the cottages,” Mr Nash added with a smile. He siaid he did not know the costs of construction, but the materials looked solid and the cottages compact and well equipped. “But the main thing is that they are homes. The people here can be hapipy, making the cottages homes of their own. They cannot be interrupted.” Accompanied by the Mayor of Kaiapoi (Mr Owen Williams). the Deputy Mayor (Mr R. Monk),, other councillors and the member of Parliament for Lyttelton (Mr N. E. Kirk), Mr Nash inspected the block of eight single cottages, the first four of which were occupied last December, and the eight double cottages which have been occupied for more than three years. Mr Nash spoke to all the pensioners, and went inside the homes of Mrs Agnes Greenwood and Mrs Catherine Johnson. Mrs Greenwood is particularly well known in Kaiapoi for her 18 years’ work for the St. John Ambulance Association and other public work. Mr Nash had afternoo-n tea with Mr and Mrs Fred Neale after visiting all the homes in the double cottage block. Mr Neale, also well known

tn Kaiapoi, has an illuminated address signed by Mr Nash in recognition of his public work. Typical of the women living at the cottages is Mrs Annie Seeker, who was born in Kaiapoi 65 years ago. Her husband was born at Rangiora 79 years ago. “We have been here only sdx months, and I wish we had moved here two years ago,” said Mrs Seeker. “Our oM house was a continual worry and the grounds too big for us to manage. It is lovely here, and I have never had so many cupboards in my life.” The cupboards in the cottages were the subject of favourable comment by all the women pensioners.