PENSIONER FLATS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29818, 10 May 1962, Page 3

PENSIONER FLATS

New Block Opened

The Christchurch City Council had led the way in | providing pensioners’ cottages, and was pushing ahead with projects far faster than any other local body in the country, said the Minister of; Housing (Mr Lake) when he officially opened the Mac-; Gibbon place units yesterday afternoon. “You lead New Zealand in this very important work,” the Minister said. The Government worked in with local bodies, he said, and it hoped that other local authorities would follow Christchurch's example and provide good accommodation for their senior citizens. Mr Lake was shown over several of the 36 units in the block and said that tenants were given independence as well as security away from institutional life. Cr. M. R. Carter, chairman of the council’s housing committee. explained that the council had built 310 pensioners’ cottages in the last year. Tenders had been let for 24 in Marshland road and another 112 units, involving seven contracts, had been planned.

Cr. W. S. Mac Gibbon, whose name has been perpetuated by the street which leads from Manhire street. Spreydon. into the cottage area, said the council’s programme could not have been achieved without the help of the Government, which subsidised the cost of each cottage and also lent money to rate of interest.