STATE HOUSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22865, 21 October 1937, Page 17

STATE HOUSES

BUILDING BY-LAWS ' DIVERGENT STANDARDS ; difficulties reviewed POWERS FOR THE DEPARTMENT Difficulties -which have arisen between local bodies aifil the Housing Department in the execution of State housing schemes were reviewed in a report of a conference between the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, representatives of/ the department, and tho Municipal Association, which was presented at a meeting of the Papatoetoo Town Board. In its memorandum tho association gtated that, owing to tho difficulties encountered, the conference had been convened l\v the Minister. It had been pointed out during a discussion of tho difficulties that there was a great divergence in 'the requirements of local body by-laws, which was causing embarrassment to the department. It was found that under tho by-laws throughout the Dominion tho minhmitn area for building varied from 5.3 to 40 • perches, and in the case of back sections the minimum in one instance was 53 perches. In regard to frontages tho by-laws varied in requirements from 20 to 66ft. The particular difficulties which the department was meeting arose under two heads: Subdivision (.in regard to frontages, widths of streets, areas of sectioiis. and subdivisions to culs-de-6ae) where the department had purchased land; and easement in regard to drainage and electric light poles. The Minister had stated the Government's desire to have the department and the local bodies co-operate for the mutual advantage of the people. Where settlement of differences could not be amicably adjusted the Government felt that some body should function as. referee, and it intended at an early date to introduce legislation providing that anv matters in dispute would be referred' to th* Town Planning Board through the Minister of Internal Affairs. The finding of tho board would be final. • . In regard to easements it was tiie ■' Government's intention to take for the Housing Department powers similar to those already yested in local bodies for the taking of drainage easements under 'the Municipal Corporations Act. 11)33. The question of power poles, which the department desired to erect along the back boundaries of sections rather than 'in the streets./ would be taken np with the Power Boards' and Municipal Supply Authorities' Association. ' PROGRESS AT WHANGAREI PROPOSED GARDEN SUBURB [FP.OJI OUR/, OWN CORRESPONDENT] ■WHANGAREI, Wednesday Good, progress is being made with the erection of houses in Whangarei by the Government Housing Department Recentlv a contract was let to a local builder, Mr. A. Walker, for 12 houses on what was known as Dobbie s estate and acquired bv the Government. Eight of them are well under way. Mr. "Walker estimates that the houses will be completed earlif in the new year. Provision has been made on the land acquired, to erect 29 houses. It is situated in one pi the best residential ' -localities in Whangarei. It is intended 'to make the block into a garden suburb, the area lending itself to this ' icheifie.' PROVISION FOR NATIVES BUILDING AT ROTORUA ' [by telegraph —OWN* correspondent] ROTORUA, "Wednesday A good start has been made with the erection of new homes under the Native Housing Act for indigent natives in the Ohinemutu, Whakarewarewa and Maketu pas, which are the three selected areas in this district to be first dealt with under the scheme. One of the homes, which, while providing the most modern amenities, is designed on native architectural lines, has „ practically been completed at Ohinemutu, while another is soon to be started there, and two are to be erected in both the Whakarewarewa and Maketu villages. There is also a scheme afoot for the erection <jf a number of homes for natives, of similar design to those being provided for pakelias throughout the Dominion, on an area of Crown land outside, but in close proximity to, the JWhakarewarewa native village. It is .understood that the Minister of Native 'Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstone, has intimated that if ten reliable natives with the necessary means to fulfil their obligations as satisfactory tenants can be secured, he would be prepared to consider favourably such a proposal. Altogether there arc 19 sections available on the block. It is stated that so far six applications for tho homes have received. '

DARGAVILLE SECTIONS AREAS CONSIDERED TOO SMALL [BY TKLEGKAI'H —OWN COIUIKSI'ONDENT] DARGAVILLE, Wednesday ■£; Advice that in one or two instances sections on 'which State houses are to be erected in Dargaville were smaller 111 area than provided for by the by-laws, namely, one-fifth of an acre, was received b.v the Borough Council from the roads and works committee. The Under-Secretary for Housing Mr. J. A. Lee, wrote asking the council io grant approval of the scheme. Jhe Mayor, Mr. F. A. Jones, said that in fairness to those ratepayers who had requested permission to build on areas of Jess than one-fifth of an acre and had been refused a protest should be recorded. , lb It was decided that the matter should be taken up with the Housing Department. - ■