COTTAGES FOR FARM WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 71, 17 December 1937, Page 10

COTTAGES FOR FARM WORKERS

To Be Offered By State On Easy Terms

By Telegiaih—Press Association,

Christchurch, December 16.

Standard plans are being drafted for the building of cottages to provide accommodation for farm labourers, t the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, Minister of Labour, said to-day. The Government hopes that the erection of these cottages, which will cost only a modest sum and which will be available for purchase by farmers on the easiest terms possible, will do much to relieve the shortage of farm labour, one of the greatest causes of which has been lack of suitable accommodation. Mr. Armstrong said that the construction of the cottages would be carried out along with the State housing schemes. It would be unreasonable to expect farmers to pay large sums to build houses on their property for their employees, Mr. Armstrong continued, but he hoped that the proposed cottages would be inexpensive enough to attract farmers. Payments could be made by instalments on easy terms. The settlement in cottages of young married couples who could be encouraged to establish their own gardens and consider the cottages as their homes, would practically eliminate the labour troubles of farmers, Mr. Armstrong thought. The employees would have a personal interest in the farms on which they were working, and they would be glad to stay there. A fairly early announcement giving fuller details of the scheme could be expected from Mr. J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, added Mr. Armstrong.