WORKMEN'S DWELLINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10970, 26 January 1899, Page 6

WORKMEN'S DWELLINGS.

SUBURBAN HOUSES FOR WORKINGMEN.

AN ATTRACTIVE SCHEME.

PROMISE OF GOVERNMENT AID. As attractive scheme to encourage workingmen to build houses for themselves in the suburbs of Auckland is just being pushed forward by Mr. John Bollard, M.H.R. The acquisition of suburban lands by the Government. with adequate railway communication, and aid from Government to those workingmen who desired to make homes for themselves in the suburbs of the cities of New Zealand, was advocated in our leading columns yesterday, and Mr. Bollard thought the time opportune to take active steps in connection with a scheme which hej has had in hand for some time. During the last session of Parliament Mr. Bollard brought the question of suburban homes for the workmen of Auckland under the notice of the Minister for Lands. He pointed out that while under the amended Land for Settlement Act the Government had power to acquire suburban lands for the purpose of providing workmen's homes, nothing of this kind had been tried in Auckland, although the benefits of the Act bad been extended to the other large centres of the colony. Mr. McKenzie. in reply, stated that some inquiries had been made with regard to land in the suburbs of Auckland, but that the prices asked were prohibitive. In reply to this Mr. Bollard stated that he would undertake to get inoro land than would be requited, between Mount Albert and Henderson, at £10 an acre, provided that a workmen's train could be run from say Henderson to Auckland, leaving Henderson at twenty minutes to eight a.m., and returning from Auckland at twenty minutes past five p.m., just after the workmen had left off work for the day. The price named being leasonable the Minister for Lands advised Mr. Bollard to place himself in communication with Mr. McKerro*. the land purchase officer in Wellington, and on the matter being placed before Mr. McKerrow that gentleman advised Mr. Bollard to put the scheme in operation, and undertook to come to Auckland to look at the property, and in the event of the land being available at the price stated, and everything else being satisfactory he would advise the Government to carry out the scheme. In pursuance of this plan Mr. Bollard, by advertisement in another part of this issue, asks proprietors .if land, within a mile of the railway stations on the line to Henderson, to call on him. and he also invites respectable workingmen, who desire to take advantage of the scheme to communicate with him. He is prepared to show workmen inter .'sled in tile scheme that thev can get 10 acres of land, an advance of £100 to assist them to erect a dwelling, and » yearly ticket for the proposed workmen's train, .it less money per week than is usually paid for a house in an unhealthy back street in the citv. The scheme is intended to benefit only those who have employment in the citv, as the land in question is unsuitable for those who have no means of livelihood except whe t their allotments will produce. But for respectable workwomen any number of healthy homes could be provided, and en every 10-acre allotment the workman could have an orchard, a vegetable garden, and grass .'or a cow. Daily trains to bring the workmen to the city and back to their homes, are, of course, essential to the success of the scheme, but Mr. Bollard is confident that this can be easily arranged, if. say. 150 families desire to participate in the benefits offered.