WORKERS' HOMES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2552, 28 August 1915, Page 3

WORKERS' HOMES

URGENT NEED IN WELLINGTON THE PETONE GRIEVANCE The need for workers' dwelliugs in parts of Wellington was urged by Dr. Newman and Mr. T. M. Wilford in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Wilford renewed the complaint of Petone Borough Council about the nonpayment of rates by the Government on land vheld for workers'■ dwellings at Petone. Mr. G. J.' Anderson' urged the Prime Minister to go on with his country workers' homes scheme. Dr. Newman impressed upon the Government tlie urgent necessity of providing workers' homes in the vicinity of Kilbirnie and Epan3 Bay. He knew that the Department advised against this, but he would.ask the Minister to disregard tho advice. There never had been sucli a demand for cottages and small houses in Wellington as there was at present. Tho Prime Minister said he ebelieved there was a stronger demand for-houses in Wellington at preseut than in any other part of New Zealand. He had looked over a block of land in'the district to. which Dr. , Newman had referred. The. land was ; near the twopenny sectimi and close to . tho tram'iine. He did not think a- bettor piece of land could'be found anywhere. Negotiations had been commenced for the acquisition of part of the land, but had fajlen through, lie. believed, He promised to give the matter consideration. ' Mr. Massey said ; he appreciated the difficulty of Tho local, body' at Petone, but the reason was that years ago more land was purchased there than was required for workers' dwellings. There was now no great demand for workers' homes at Petone. Ho would be prepared to sell the land to the local authority. He would even be prepared to sell seotipns on', the' understanding that the purchaser would undertake to build houses-on the land. He did not intend t° let the Country Workers' Homes scheme lapse. 'The country workers' homes already erected had given satisfaction, and in that re-' spect things had- gone very well indeed. The had passed the experimental -stage.;; He did not think we should erect more than, half a dozen homes in any one place, and the Government had to be. very careful to see that houses were built- in localities where there was employment for people occupying them, if money was available in future he intended to do more than he had yet done about building country : workers' homes.