WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 900, 20 August 1910, Page 12

WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

' /PEOPOSED; AMENDMENTS., "As a result of the' decision of the Goternment to materially 'alter the provisions of the Workers' Dwellings-Act by. an amending Bill, which, is now being prepared," says'the Chief Advisory Officer of[the Workers' Department in his annual report, ;"no, dwellings other than the 19 already • decided on will be erected. The new provisions will effect very necessary- improvements on those' contained in,the existing ,Act. If the Bill is' passed, the Department will not proceed with the erection of any dwellings until definite applications/for the same are made. In this.way they, will be better ■ able to meet the requirements of workers not',only;.in respect ta the class of buildings as iar as it is possible to, do so, but also in respect to site. It is also proposed.to do away with the tenancy and lease methods x>f disposal and to substitute .disposal;by sale on Very easy terms, viz., a small, deposit and tot balance to be paid in weekly, instalments. Tiiis course will take the 'responsibility of payment for • the dwellings off the. hands of the Government.!" Another feature of the proposed Bill that has been suggested for consideration is ■to allow workers the, option-of insuring their lives during the currency of their purchase agreements;in order that in the event of death occurring at any time. the wife and family'shall'have'the house and land free of debt.'"/' ■■';'; : ■'.'[.'.\ ' .'■ .'■-. The report states (hat .^in .i addition, t< . the twelve houses. at ', Lawry Settlement, - Auckland, referred to Hi ;the.. last report, ■ seven dwellings '.' had been-v. ereotedi at Walker Settlement, Christchurch./ .'• The whole of the-buildings were erected under the supervision ■of the-Department , e Architect (Sir. W.. Temple),- by 'whom they were' designed. Although there was no actual rush of applicants for the nineteen houses referred to, as was the case at Ooromandel Street, Wellington, and at Camelof Settlement, Sydenham, there was a good demand, and all the dwellings were leased immediately they, were available. In the. majority, of cases the lessees or tenants took .great care of the premises, and made improvements-on the properties.. Up to March 31 last 127 houses had been erected and finished under the Act, and of these nine were unoccupied on the above date, viz.,' eight at Hcrctaunga, l'etone, and one at Windie, Dunedin. Three' of the Heretaunga houses . had since .been let. At Petone there was. some difficulty, in the disposal or letting of the'dwellings, not only because of the distance from. Wellington city, but also- from the fact that the settlement is 25 minutes' walk from the Petone Railway Station. The settlement was consequently practically limited to Petone workers.. It could, hardly be expected to dispose of these dwellings satisfactorily unless some means was found for getting to and from the settlement. A further trial of., ferro-concrete for the workers' dwellings was made, and the Chief Advisory Officers consider that the use of ferro-concrete in preference to wood should be encouraged.. ' .