TRANSIT HOUSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21946, 14 February 1946, Page 8

TRANSIT HOUSES

READY SHORTLY SELECTION OF TENANTS ALL RETURNED MEN A fortnight should see work at the 32-unit transit housing camp at the Park Domain completed and the units ready for occupation by 32 returned men and their families, the town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins, stated yesterday. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council a letter was received from the State Advances Corporation advising that if it was desired that tlie tenants, selected for the transit housing camp should be provided with State houses at a later date then the selection of the tenants must be made by the local body in consultation with, and subject to the approval of the State Advances Corporation. if the local authority desired to select its own tenants it could do ? so and in that event the corporation would be under no obligation to continue efforts to obtain State houses for those tenants.

The town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins: This particular instruction will not apply to those men on the rehabilitation list who will still be on full priority for a State house. As all the units a.t this camp are to be let through the Rehabilitation Department we are not concerned bv this instruction.

“It seems a rather high-handed attitude,” commented Mr. F. Tolerton. Mr. G. J. Jeune: I don’t think so, as everybody has to be placed.

The letter was received on the explanation of the town clerk.

The transit Lousing committee reported on a meeting of the committee at which the town clerk submitted figures showing the capital expenditure and the annual charges involved in the construction of 32 units. The capital expenditure will amount to approximately £3OOO, with repayment of this sum over five years, and interest at 4 per cent will involve an annual charge of £674. in addition to which must be added caretaker's wages and charges for community lighting, maintenance, insurance and water supply, bringing the total estimated annual charges up to £1174.

The committee recommended that the rental for each 30ft bv Bft hut divided into three rooms be 16s per week, and if tenants require a 10ft x Bft hut to be attached then the rental be increased to £1 per week, all rentals to be paid strictly in advance.

This scale of rentals was adopted by the full council.