COTTAGE HOMES

Evening Star, Issue 21714, 8 May 1934, Page 2

COTTAGE HOMES

PROGRESS OF SCHEME IN CHRISTCHURCH

LOW RENT CHARGES Details concerning the cottage, homes settlement scheme for disabled returned soldiers were given at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association recently, when Mr T. L. Drummond answered a number of questions. Air Drummond said that though it was not impossible for the scheme to fail, he hoped that it would not, and the precaution had been taken .of securing.! .-the co-operation of men of financial standing and- integrity who were following a conservative policy. Air Drummond said that the Finance Committee of the Cottage Homes .Settlement was .rather insistent to obtain information from the association regarding its immediate future ‘ requirements and (lie number of men who were prepared to go into the cottages. The Finance Committee contended that it could not go before tbe public and ask ior £20,000 or £OO,OOO without particulars of specific oases and without being able to claim that the matter was one of urgency. MONEY REQUIRED URGENTLY.

Mr W. E. LeadJey said the..'.Finance Committee wanted to be able to assure the public that money was required urgently. He moved that the Benevolent Committee be asked to interview some ot the most needy applicants that came before it and prepare a list of such eases and inquire from them whether they were prepared to go into the cottages when erected; also, that the committee take steps to obtain similar information from the Pensions Department and Major Dry, of the Salvation Army Men's Home. 'the motion was curried.

The questions submitted by Mr Grant were tberi dealt, with, the answers being given by Mr Drummond. Air Drummond said the cost ot road making and street lighting ’ was being borne by the City Council, free of cost to the committee. ‘ The cost of repairs and general ■ upkeep of the homes would be paid from the balance of the £25,000 it was hoped would be provided by the public. Nothing had yet been arranged regarding a caretaker at the settlement, but the idea Mr Drummond had in mind was that the' caretaker would he given tree lodgings and not paid wages. KENT. RATES, INSURANCE. A rent of approximately Is a month would be charged to the tenants, whether married or single. With regard to rates and insurance, the committee was still negotiating with the City Council with a view to legislation being passed exempting the settlement from rates. . Exuulsiou from the settlement, saul Mr Drummond, would ho the penalty for neglect of a cottage and failure to keep it clean. The question of appointing trustees for the settlement was under consideration, and it ivas hoped that the District Public .Trustee would be one of the trustees. “ That question has not been thought of by the Administration Committee," said Mr Drummond, in reply to a question whether, in the event of the. death of a married man, his widow would-continue to..occupy the cottage as provided for married couples.