WESTLAND BLUES.

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1945, Page 3

WESTLAND BLUES.

[to the editor.] Sir,—In your leading article under the above' heading in last evening’s “Star” you say:—“lmprovement will be difficult if there is undue sensitiveness when social and other blots are brought to notice. For instance, at the Progress League meeting, attention was directed to alleged slums in. Greymouth, but the topic was apparently unpopular and the matter was shelved. That does not denote progress.’’ This is an unfair statement of the position. As Chairman of the meeting referred to I am able to assure you that the matter has not been shelved. Whenever important proposals 0 are b’rought forward at League Council meetings the usual procedure is to refer them to the standing committee which deals with that particular subject and that was the procedure adopted in connection with Mr. Pratt’s motion in which he made reference to slum type houses in Greymouth and suggested that the Greymouth Borough Council be asked to obtain a Government Loan with which to purchase land and build houses to be sold on a small, deposit to the occupiers of these slum type houses. This is too big a subject to be dealt with until the proposals have been studied in all their aspects, and when it was suggested that the matter be referred to the Housing Committee for a report and recommendation Mr. Pratt readily concurred and withdrew his motion in favour of one which he then moved to refer the matter to the Housing Committee which will investigate the proposal and bring down a recommendation probably at the next meeting of the League Council. I dm sure you will agree that that does not mean that the matter has been shelved and I hope you will publish this correction. Yours etc., J. MARTIN BUNT. Vice President.