A GARDEN SUBURB.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14206, 3 September 1919, Page 5

A GARDEN SUBURB.

BOROUGH HOUSING SCHEME. The three clauses in the Reserves Committee’s report to the last meeting of the Borough Council, touching the question of workers’ cottages and the establishment of a garden suburb, which were held over till last night’s meeting, were discussed by the Council at some length. The engineer submitted a plan of the proposed reservation which indicated to the Councillors the scheme suggested. The first clause read; That the Council be recommended to set aside a portion of the reserves adjoining Fitzhcrbert Street and Park Road for development as a garden suburb, reserving a further 50 acres for park purposes, and that the engineer’s plan for such development as submitted for approval of the Council, be adopted. Speaking to the recommendation, Cr E. H. Crabb. as chairman of the Reserves, Committee, referred to the plan submitted. He said the committee felt that with the greater development of the town there would have to be more reserves in one part of the town or another, and more revenue would have to be provided for this. He pointed out that the Council should give a lead to the large land-owners in the matter of laying out the land for s 'ttlement, as in doing this they would b3 doing one of the greatest possible services to the borough. They had to thank their engineer, who had proved that he was thoroughly acquainted with the latest methods of town-planning, and it had been a revelation to the speaker to be shown what could be done in the way of improvement on the old system of laying out land for settlement. Cr E. L. Broad pointed out that it would be a disadvantage to have all the borough employees housed in one spot, which was a good way from their place of employment. It would be better to put some of them in other parts of the town. In reply to this, Cr Crabb said that wherever they put the houses, some of the employees were bound to bo away from their work. With the coming of trams, however, there would be workers’ ears running, and it would be easy for the men to be taken to thmr place of employment. The committees ideal was a garden suburb for the working man. Cr M. A. Eliott pointed out that it depended on the loan proposals whether the scheme would go through. He quite agreed with the proposals and with Cr Crabb’s ideas with regard to the trams removing the other objection. The land there was too good to be used only for grazing purposes. The Council would bo very wise to approve sooner or later of the whole scheme for cutting up the reserves and erecting a cheap class of house for the labouring man. Cr Lancaster: I hope to see very picturesque up-to-date houses. Cr Eliott explained that he did not mean “cheap” in that way. Cr Crabb said the idea was that the engineer’s plan was to be submitted to the Council for its approval, and finally to be adopted by the Council at its next meeting. Cr Spooner: Why not now. I think it should go through. Continuing, he congratulated the committee on having brought down the scheme. The only thing was that they wanted to know all the details of the proposal with regard to the tenure, etc. In reply io a question from Cr J. Hodgens, Cr Crabb pointed out that the area to be set aside for houses was about 70 acres, which was to be cut up into about 250 sections. Of this number, 15 would be used under the loan proposals for the housing scheme. Cr Hodgens also congratulated the Reserves Committee. The Council should set a model for other landowners. If the plan was adopted, he intended to vote for the proposal. The clause was then adopted on the motion of Cr Graham. The second clause read: “That, -with a view of immediately providing for the needs of the Council’s employees, 15 cottages bo erected on section 1536, part lot 10, and along the linos of street at present facing the borough stables, providing that the loan for this purpose is carried.

Cr Crabb said that be and tbe engineer bad estimated that the houses could be erected for £7OO each. They would have to explain to the public in asking approval for the loan, how many houses they expected to erect and the other details of the scheme. The 15 cottages suggested were only a beginning. Cr Lancaster suggested that the number should be struck out of the clause, expressing the opinion that the cottages could not be built for £7OO. Cr Crabb said it would have to be done, and pointed out that by setting a limit they could have a check on the cost, which would prevent the houses becoming too expensive for their original purpose. The engineer (Mr J, E. Hughes) pointed out that the cost would depend largely on when the cottages were erected. The town clerk CMr J. E. Hardic) stated that 20 of the borough employees were willing to take the cottages now. Opinion among Councillors as to ■whether the number should be stated, was evenly divided. Finally it was decided to hold the clause over to be further discussed by the Eeserves Committee. That, with a view of planning the proposed municipal cottages on right lines, the committee lip empowered to add to its numbers for consultation purposes such persons as shall in its opinion be qualified to assist, to include representatives of the workers themselves. This was the third elans*', which explained itself and required no discussion, and was adopted.