URGENT NECESSITY FOR TRANSIT HOUSES TO BE REPAIRED FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22761, 6 October 1948, Page 4

URGENT NECESSITY FOR TRANSIT HOUSES TO BE REPAIRED FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

‘ ‘ Over 250 ex-servicemen are still awaiting- adequate housing in Gisborne, and many cf them are on the urgent list. Most are prepared to go into transit huts, and we must get those huts which were damaged by the flood in May repaired and re-occupied as soon as possible,” stated Mr. I. J. Quigley at last night’s meeting of the Gisborne Borough Council.

Mr. Quigley's remarks followed the reading of a letter dispatched by the town clerk, Mr W. M. Jenkins, last week to Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., Under-Secretary for Housing. An undertaking wa-s given by tne Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, in June tast that the Government would reinstate the 22 transit houses which were damaged by the May floods. Following negotiations between the council and the district supervisor of housing at Napier, Mr. Coleman was written to asking if the matter could be expedited. I No reply had been received up to last j night. On the motion of Mr. W. C. Kohn, seconded by Mr. Quigley, it I was decided that the acting Prime Minister, Mr, W. Nash, should be communicated with and advised of the position and the dissatisfaction at the fuli amount required for the reinstatement of the huts not being granted immediately. In his letter to Mr. Coleman, the town clerk explained that following Mr. Fraser's promise the supervisor ot housing at Napier had advised on July 21 that he had obtained approval for the issue of sufficient monetary autn irity to enable the work on the huts to be carried out. Monetary Authority Restricted The council had prepared specifications and called for tenders. No tenders had been received, but later one had been forthcoming at a figure substantially above the estimated cost. On this being submitted to the supervisor, he had stated his authority only amounted to £2934 and suggested that the council find the difference or alternatively have the specifications amended and so lower the cost. This the council was unable to do, and there the matter rested at present. Mr. Jenkins stated last night that he had spoken to the supervisor, whom he considered had been “somewhat parsimonious” and had quibbled over small details. It appeared to him, said Mr. Jenkins, that the supervisor did not wish to go to Wellington to ask for the extra £SOO between the grant and the tender price Mr. Fraser had given his promise that the huts would be reinstated and he thought the money should be forthcoming. “Departmental Delay Inexcusable” The Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, and other councillors were of the same , opinion. "There seems to have been some departmental delay which is inexcusable,” said Mr. Bull. “The flood was in May and it is now October and nothing has been done. I am worried about the position.” It was mentioned that rehabilitation carpentry trainees could be put on the job, but Mr. Jenkins stated that the district supervisor of housing at Napier did not appear to favour using these men. “It is time for action and we must follow up the Government’s promises, which they should be prepared to carry out,” said Mr. Kohn in moving his motion.