No. 10 SCHEME COTTAGES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 301, 15 September 1933, Page 6

No. 10 SCHEME COTTAGES

Council Protests to Minister Palmerston North, September 15. A decision to lodge a protest against the type and quality of the cottages which are being built throughout the country under the Government’s unemployment small-farm scheme wag reached by the Manawatu County Council at its meeting yesterday, after hearing a special report on the subject, prepared by the county engineer, Mr. H, V. Bond. On the face of the Information made available} by Mr, Bond, the council had no hesitation in deciding to protest to the Minister of Public Works. Mr, Bond's report stated an follows “I have to draw the council’s attention to the type of cottages which are being built throughout the country, and especially those within this county, under the Government's unemployment farm scheme. There appear to bo two standard plan# to which they are built, namely, type *A' and type ‘B’. In the case of type *B,' which I consider requires some alteration, It will be noticed that the only entrance to tho house is from the rear. No entrance Is allowed for in the front of the house. It will bo remembered that 'in the case of the Westlake fire at Himatangi there was only one entrance in the dwelling, and In consequence lives were lost. It is evident that the house was built without the knowledge or consent of the council. The materials being used for the construction Of these farm cottages do not satisfy the requirements of the by-laws, tho timber being far below the standard demanded.” Mr. Bond produced a plan of the type “B” cottage and suggested that its internal arrangement was such that in the event of a fire children would have no hope of getting out.