No Sections, No Houses For Comity Workmen

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 7

No Sections, No Houses For Comity Workmen

[SPECIAL REPORTER] REEFTON,' This Day.—So great is the demand for houses and sections in' Reefton that, hindered in its efforts to obtain a building area, the Inangahua County Council is unable to put into operation its plans to house its employees. As a result, the council’s outside staff has dwindled to such an extent that when it reached a new low level this month, much of the manual work had to be carried out by the foreman, Mr N. L, Bolitho. , , These facts emerged during a discussion of the situation at yesterday s meeting of the County Council, when a further recommendation that a housing scheme be brought into operation, was shelved until efforts to obtain building sections reach fruition. . , ~ Cr T. E. Elgin raised the question, pointing out that though the matter had been discussed some months ago, nothing had yet been done about securing houses for employees. No Sections The chairman, Cr J. S. McGregor, pointed out that the council was being held up by its inability to obtain sections, while investigations had shown that it would be set a difficult task to compete with the State as far as rental houses are concerned. He said that 120 State houses were to be built in the Chattockville settlement, and the council would find it hard to compete with the rentals charged there. Cr Elgin pointed out that the Mines Department made mon available for its employees to build their own homes, and he proposed that the council take steps to do the same for its employees. Men owning their homes would be prepared to stay in the district, he said. “As far as employees are concerned, we are at the lowest ebb we have ever been,” he added. Agreeing, the foreman asked why the council could not obtain an allocation of the new State houses for its employees. Demand For Houses

Already 49 civilian and 12 servicemen applications had been made and all were deserving cases, living m single rooms or, like one man, his wife, and three children, sharing only one room, said the chairman. The council could not compete against cases of hardship such as these. It was reported that once again efforts made by the council to obtain a title to an area formerly used as a pound, for a housing area, had been rejected by the Lands Department, though the council had had charge of the property for many years. It was held, it was stated, that the land was required for Government purposes and could not be released for housing. Citing this as an instance of the difficulties facing the council in housing its employees, or potential employees, Cr J. E. Etheridge proposed that the Minister of Lands, Mr C. F. Skinner, should be approached and the position fully explained to him. “We will ask him to see whether the Government wants this area for some better purpose than the council,” he said. It was reported that Mr Skinner had stated at Waiuta last Sunday evening that the only thing limiting house construction in Reefton was a shortage of labour. The materials were available and, if more men could be engaged, building would proceed faster, he had stated. The council decided to take no further action pending the outcome of negotiations regarding the former pound area.