CITY’S HOUSING NEEDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 212, 7 August 1945, Page 4

CITY’S HOUSING NEEDS

TRANSIT CAMP PROPOSAL.

BLOCK OF FLATS URGED. Proposals have been made by the Palmerston North City Council to the Government for the provision of a transit camp at the Showgrounds and the building of a block of flats near the site of the new station (at the intersection of ltangitikei Line and Boundary Road) as means of relieving the housing shortage. In a statement today the Mayor (Mr Mansford) said he, personally, was more interested in the suggestion for the building of the flats. *

When speaking at the opening of the carpentry training centre in Maire Street yesterday. Mr Mansford referred to both proposals and he urged that the flats could be designed so that later they could be taken over as an hotel. They cou'ld be on the design of those erected in Wellington-—not as extensive perhaps—-but they would meet the immediate need for accommodation and they would be a payable proposition.

The Mayor said today that an inspection of the Showgrounds had been made with a view to conversion of facilities there into a transit camp where families might reside until suitable housing was available for them. It was anticipated that between 40 and 50 families could be accommodated and the installations already at hand would call for no great expenditure in order to make the facilities adequate. “It would be distinctly advantageous if you could formulate your proposals in more detail, giving a possible site, a general plan of lay-out as you conceive it, and an estimate of the probable cost,” states a letter which has been received by Mr Mansford from the Prime Minister (Mr Eraser) in regard to the building of the fiats. “The matter could then be brought before Mr Nash whe, as Minister of Finance, is in charge of the State Advances Corporation. Any suggestions which you might put forward will be given every necessary consideration by both Mr Nash and myself.” Mr Mansford said that steps were being taken now to take the proposal further.