MAORI GIRLS’ FLATS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30055, 13 February 1963, Page 7

MAORI GIRLS’ FLATS

Government Buys Block Of Nine A block of nine flats on the comer of Papanui road and Webb street has been bought by the Government at a cost of £ 10,000 for young, single Maori women. The project is jointly sponsored by the Church of England and the Welfare Division of the Maori Affairs Department. The Church originally asked the Government for a subsidy to buy the flats, but the Government offered to buy them on condition that the Church looked after them and supervised the tenants. The sum of £5OOO has been allocated for renovations and furnishings, but the cost is expected to be much less. The building, which is old but of solid timber, will also be completely roughcast. The flats, each of which has a kitchen and a large bed-sittingroom, will be ready in three months. A married couple experienced in Maori social work will occupy one flat

Assistance would be given with personal problems if the girls needed it, said Mr J. E Lewin, the Maori Affairs Department’s district officer, yesterday. These flats would help to solve the accommodation problems of girls coming to Christchurch, after fruit-picking in Nelson. The department tried to find them jobs and suitable accommodation, but this was sometimes difficult. Mr Lewin said that the rents would be as low as possible ,and the girls would be able to have good accommodation at a reasonable figure.