HOUSING SURVEY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22687, 27 March 1937, Page 15

HOUSING SURVEY

DIFFICULTY AT WAIHI APPOINTMENT •OF OFFICIALS [by TELEGRAPH—OWN correspondent] WAIHI, Friday The question of the appointment of a supervisor and two investigators for the purpose of conducting a survey of housing in Waihi as required by the Act claimed the attention of the Waihi Borough Council this week. Only two applications were received. The paucity of applicants caused some discussion, especially in view of the fact that salaries "of £6 and £5 a week respectively were offered for the positions. Mr. J. J. Callaghan submitted that the nature of the specified duties of the investigators had proved a deterrent to a sufficient number of suitable men applying for the position. The question was whether the scheme would improve existing conditions, and he thought friction would be caused unless people fully understood the nature of the information required. Many people were rather unhappily placed in regard to the condition of buildings and there was a danger of encroaching on the privacy of people. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. C. F. Butcher, remarked that the survey was never intended to apply to a mining town, which was really a mining camp. The -council decided to invite fresh applications and to include the applications already received.