WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13649, 17 January 1908, Page 6

WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

THE MAYOR'S SCHEME. CONSIDERATION AGAIN DEFERRED. The question of municipal workers' dwellings was erred to at last, night's meeting of ill© City Council, by the Mayor (Mr. A. M. Myers), who said tliat on March 25 last he .submitted to the Council a report on the question. After full discussion it was apparent that a large number of the councillors could not see their way clear to support the scheme, but it was ultimately referral to the Finance Committee. The members of that committee, while generally recognising that there was an undoubted congestion of population in some parts of the city, among surroundings nob calculated to bo in the best interests of those living there, were evidently of opinion that some different scheme than the one lie had suggested, would be more likely to receive their sympathy and support; and they had asked him if he could submit another one to thorn. Owing, however, to tho large number of important matter* that liad claimed their attention in the meantime, and especially the fact, that they were at present engaged in launching a comprehensive drainage scheme for the city and suburbs, he felt that this was not an >pportune time to re-open the subject. He considered that for the next fow months all their attention should be given to studying and inaugurating the drainage scheme, and completing the other important matters on which they had already entered. He had not, however, in any way altered his opinion as to tho urgent necessity of doing something, not only to remove the congestion that now existed, but also to preclude the possibility of its increasing to such an extent as to produce a state of things similar to that now found in the large towns of the Old Country, where the evil had become so .serious that a large number of societies had been established for the purpose of endeavouring to cope with it, whether by the erection of dwellings by the municipality, the founding of garden cities and suburbs, or in other ways. With our growing prosperity the demand for accommodation for those -who were congregating in our city must continue to increase, and although we were probably better off for space than many other colonial cities, we were certainly not' free from the danger of overcrowding. We had entered on many undertakings for promoting the health and comfort of the citizens, such as water supply, drainage, treatment of garbage, the taking of measures for ensuring the purity of our food supplies, etc.; but he felt sure that if they wished to get the full benefit of these, and make Auckland, in spite of its warm climate, one of the healthiest cities in Australasia, consideration would also have to be given to the housing question. Under the circumstances, however, he moved that the matter be deferred for a further three months. The motion was agreed to without discussion.