Proof Of Need For Flats Wanted

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 12

Proof Of Need For Flats Wanted

The Waimairi County Council’s plans for providing a further 56 flats for pensioners received a setback last evening when councillors were told that the Health Department required evidence that the project was justified. The department doubts whether there would be sufficient applicants in the county

to occupy the flats. Further information was essential on the council’s assessment of need within the county, the department said, before it could justify a case to the Government for the substantial subsidy required. “What an absolutely ridiculous attitude to adopt,” said Cr. A. A. Adcock.

“It is not so long ago that Ministers of the Government were going up and down this country blaming local bodies for not meeting the accommodation needs of elderly people. “We have built 12 flats and 24 are at present under construction. The Government apparently thinks that 36 units are enough to meet the needs of our elderly people. “I just can’t understand their reasoning,” he said. “It is just plain ridiculous to suggest that pensioners wanting accommodation should apply two years ahead just to enable the department to consider when further accommodation is justified. I hope they will have another look at it,” said Cr. Adcock. The chairman (Mr J. I. Colligan) said he considered the Government was trying to back out of its responsibility in meeting the subsidy. He suggested that the matter “be taken up” before the Budget was announced because he felt it could contain measures to reduce subsidies for pensioners’ flats. The council decided to seek the assistance of the member of Parliament for Fendalton (the Minister of Finance, Mr Lake).