State houses hit badly

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 5

State houses hit badly

One in six State houses in Christchurch were damaged in the two recent storms. About 1000 homes need repairs, and many were damaged by both storms.

Arrangements for repairs were being made last week when the second storm struck. The latest problem has! been the rain, which leaked'

jin through tiles lifted by thej '“big blow.” The worst-hit suburbs were' Riccarton. Bishopdale and| Hoon Hay, although slips I damaged State houses ini Lyttelton. ' ! The Christchurch manager! iof the Housing Corporation j(Mr G. E. Corry) is not yet able to estimate the cost of jthe damage. “Because of the shortage of materials and the tremendous pressure of work on the contractors we haven’t been able to repair all the houses as quickly as we would like, but the tenants have been generally very' considerate in! the circumstances,” Mr Corry | said. The corporation’s 11 tele-; phone lines have been over-1 loaded with calls, resulting in delays for some callers. The position is expected to improve, however, when the corporation moves into its new building next year, which will have provision for up to 20 telephone lines.