RAILWAY HOMES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 120, 14 February 1920, Page 8

RAILWAY HOMES

THE KAIWARRA SETTLEMENT

CITY COUNCIL'S PROTEST EXPLANATION BY RAILWAY MANAGER. A deputation representing the Wellington City Council interviewed Jtlie Minister of Railways (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) yesterday morning with reference to the loading in connection with the cottuges'ithat lire being erected by the Railway Department at Kaiwarra. The City Council had protested that theso cottages were being erected in violation of city regulations, and without consultation with tho city authorities. It had decided to withhold tho extension of the water supply to tho cottages until assured thnt tho access road was adequate for tho railway settlement and for the property beyond.

The deputation consisted of the Mayor, the City Engineer, the Town. Clerk, and Councillors R. A. 'Wright, M.P., P. Fraser, M.P., and J. Glover.

Tho Mayor explained the council's protest. He said that tho cottages were being built on elevated sites, and fronting a narrow road. Tho Railway Department was spot providing for tho settlement of tho land further back, and it was not complying with the regulations of tho City Council. It was very regrettable that the Department should act in such a manner as to injure tho j prospects'of a big district. Mr. Massey assured the deputation that the Railway Department did not want -to do anything contrary to the by-laws of the city or detrimental to the future welfare of Wellington. He was not acquainted -with all the details, and ho had asked the General Manager of Railways (Mr. R. W. M'Villy) to make a statement on behalf of tho Department. Mr. M'Villy said that the position appeared to have been misunderstood. The Department had mado a 14ft. road, and was using it for tho transport of material to the sections. But the plans provided a full GGft. road, which had been laid out' with a view to the future requirements of Khandallah. The temporary narrow road was being used because the work was urgent. Tho houses were required as quickly as possible. Mr. M'Villy added that he had instructed Mr. Troup and his staff to see the City Engineer's department regarding; the matter, and he was assured by -Mr. Troup that he had seen Mr. Pater6on, of Mr. Morton's staff. The previous night lie saw a letter for the first time, inviting Mr. . Troup to see the City Engineer. So far ! as the Railway Department was concerned, it was. imperative that no timo. should be lost in getting these houses up, There were a good many employees in Wellington who had been separated from their wives and families for months because they could not get houses, and tho Department, under tho circumstances, was having tho greatest difficulty in retaining them. As the matter appeared to him, there was'no necessity to anticipate any difficulty at all between the Department and tho council, provided that tho matter was approached' in a proper way by both sides. Ho thought he had done his part in instructing Mr. Troup to see the City Engineer's department: Mr. M'Villy thought that tho council had been precipitate in discussing the matter on a wrong assumption.

The City Engineer > (Mr. Morton) replied that Mr. M'Villy himself was labouring under a misapprehension. No plan .had.been submitted to the proper authority, and tho council's officers had been left in the position of having to discover for themselves what was going ,gji. Mr. Troup had seen Mr. Patereon, of the City Engineer's staff, two or three weeks ago, when the work was already proceeding.

The Mayor, in reply to Mr. Massey, said that a GCft. road would satisfy the council. Mr. Massey said there evidently had been some misunderstanding between the two staffs. Ho believed that the new road to Khandallah ought to be provided for. Tho Railway Department was now building 40 houses'at Kaiwarra, and proposed to build 350 in Wellington dlone, apart altogether from the Gpvernment's general housing scheme. This work would take five or six years. The eolo difficulties in tho way were shortages of labour and materials. He had* no doubt that satisfactory arrangements would be made between the council and the Department regarding the Kaiwarra settlement.