WORKERS’ DWELLINGS IN HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 185, 22 July 1911, Page 5

WORKERS’ DWELLINGS IN HASTINGS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —We enclose a letter received by us to-day from the Superintendent of Workers’ Dwellings, which, if you will kindly publish, will be very interesting to a number of your readers, especially to those workers in Hastings who have been looking forward eagerly to securing a home under the Workmen’s Dwellings Act of last session.

From the letter appended, it can be seen that the Hon. the Afinister for Labour says “ That we have not a sufficient number of applicants for workers’ dwellings in Hastings,” etc., etc. Now, what opportunity have the workers of this town had of making application ' How were they to know to whom to apply Further, has the Minister or his representatives ever endeavoured to find out how many workers in Hastings are anxiously waiting to take advantage of this scheme He has not. be- ; cause, if he had, he and his representatives would have found that! there are scores of people in Hast-1 ings who are obliged, owing to cir- ‘ cumstances. to live in houses with- ! out- conveniences. In fact, we know! of numerous families with many young children who have to be sat- ; isfied with houses without bath-, rooms or water laid on inside, and :

in some cases not even outside. All of these people would have been glad to take advantage of the new scheme, but they never bad a chance, and are obliged to pay exorbitant rents. The Alinister and his associates can go round the country crowing loud about this new scheme, and we wouldn’t won der if one of them came here and boasted about th.is law to help the workers. To help the workers, forsooth I It will be well to note the large centres of population have the first claim, and that large centres vote the hardest. AVe have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the professions of this present Ministry of being the only true friends of the workers is nothing less than a hollow mockery and a sham : also that there is some ground for the allegations of the Opposition Party that, the present Government is tooling the people, and instead of being statesmen, they are mere place-hunters, and are simply endeavouring to hoodwink the public.--Thanking you in • anticipation, we are, etc., CASSIDY AM) CO. 22nd July, 1911.

ENCLOSURE. The following is the letter received by Alessrs. Cassidy and Co. from the Labour Depart merit, referred to aLote : —

“ Referring to your recent letters offering land situated in Hastings : I am directed by the Hon. the Alinister for Labour to say that, as we have not a sufficient number of applicants for workers’ dwellings in Hasting*, and as we must make an effort to help applicants in the larger centres of population where routs are exceedingly high, the question of purchasing land in Hastings must remain as it is for the present. Your offer is.' therefore. respect fully declined, and I return plan herewith.”