RAILWAY HOMES

Evening Post, Volume 105, Issue 4, 6 January 1928, Page 6

RAILWAY HOMES

SETTLEMENT IN MASTERTON (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Pott.") MASTERTON, This D,ay. The erection of fifteen railway workers' homes under the Railway Department's housing scheme has been completed at, the new settlement off Lincoln road, Masterton. Seven of the houses have been tenanted for some weeks, four more were occupied yesterday, and the remaining four will be taken over within a few days. , » I The houses are of the "factory-cut" design, being produced from the Department's factory at Prankton. They are constructed in four different designs, lending variety to tlie general hppearance of the settlement, which is erected along one side 'of a crescent. Each section is slightly more than oue-eighth of an acre, and the houses contain five rooms and are equipped with electric light, drainage, and hot aud cold water services. Gas is also laid on for those requiring it. The houses are all painted cream, with red roofs, and aro nicely finished off inside with highgrado interior decorations. Seven of the houses were- erected by the Department and tho other eight by Messrs. W. H. Christiansen and W. Large. It is estimated that in the erection of the homes the Department has spent a sum of £10,100, while there is remaining sufficient land on the other side of the road, abutting on the mill property of Messrs C. E. Daniell, Ltd., on which to erect another fifteen homes. * There are at present thirty married men' employed on the Masterton railway staff, and fifteeu of these will make their homes in the new eettlement. The remaining fifteen have either homes of their own or are conveniently situated as far as hous-j ing conditions are concerned. The stationmaster (Mr. D. Mahony). stated yesterday that there bad been no demand for any more than the fifteen homes, and i be did not anticipate that any extension of the' settlement would be necessary for a few years. The employees pay one day's pay for one week's rent, with a minimum of 14s Bd. The houses are only rented, and no provision has been made for the occupants to become the owners.