MAYOR REPLIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 83, 8 April 1938, Page 13

MAYOR REPLIES

REMOVAL OF RESTRICTIONS

The Mayor, referring to Councillor Duncan's suggestion of flats or homes for city employees, said it was quite true that certain employees might be housed by the council. He did not suggest that the council should build on a large scale for its employees, but there were employees in certain districts who could be so housed. There was nothing in the regulations to prevent that. So far as the suggestion that his report did not suggest that work should start at once was concerned, he' had assumed that when the officers were instructed they would carry the instructions out, as they usually did. His report said that they had to make land available, first for fiats, and later suburban areas for housing, and make them available for anyone who was prepared to build them. The land should be taken up by the Government" or those private people prepared to do so, but the council should not own the houses.

With' restrictions removed such people would come forward. That money was available could be seen

by the flats now being erected.

He knew of a block of flats where the rent did not exceed £2. Smaller flats could be erected at still more reasonable rents.

The immediate problem was to build flats near the centre of the city, said Mr. Hislop. The Government was dealing with separate dwellings, and he therefore disagreed with Councillor Chapman's proposal that the council should embark upon a large scheme of erecting separate dwellings. Councillor Butler: No one said "separate dwellings." 'Mr. Hislop said that the amendment was simply an attempt to make his proposals appear to be an attempt to delay action. What he desired was to obtain all the necessary information, and when that was obtained then they could go ahead. Councillor Chapman said that his proposal did not refer to "separate dwellings," but to "dwellings." The voting on the amendment was seven on either side: For, Councillors Black, Brindle, Butler, Chapman,' McKeen, Parlane. and Read; against, the Mayor, Councillors Appleton, Duncan, Gaudin, Luckie, McKenzie, and Wright. It was declared lost on the Mayor's casting vote.

The motion that the Mayor's proposals should be adopted was then put. The voting was again seven and seven, as follows: For, the Mayor, Councillors Appleton, Duncan, Gaudin, Luckie, McKenzie, and Wright; against, Councillors Black, Brindle, Butler, Chapman, McKeen, Parlnnc, and Read. The Mayor gave his.casting vote for their adoption.

Councillor Butler; Can we have an

early meeting of the housing committee?

Mr. Hislop: We will have a meeting when the necessary information is available.;

Councillor Butler: That will be before the election?

Mr. Hislop: It may or may not be,