HOUSING SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23075, 28 June 1938, Page 10

HOUSING SCHEME

£20,000 FOE ONEHUNGA STATE LOAN PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL NEED FOR 300 HOMES REPORTED Proposals for a comprehensive housing scheme, involving a loan of £20,000, have been adopted by tho Onehunga Borough Council. One of the first actions of the new council was to set up a Property and Housing Committee, consisting of Messrs. W. J. Moore (chairman), A. Garside, J. E. ]). McGuire, Mrs. M. Newton and Mrs. H. Young, whose recommendations were adopted in open council last evening. The committee reported that there were approximately -'3OOO dwellings in the borough, 2000 of which were satisfactory in every respect. Of the remainder, 700 dwellings required structural repairs, and 200 were totally unfit and should be condemned. At least 300 new dwellings were required, it was reported, to replace unfit buildings and provide accommodation to relieve overcrowding and allow every family a complete self-contained dwelling. Approved Tenants The committee recommended the council to approve of a borough housing scheme to provide houses to rent to approved tenants, and that sections of land owned by the borough, apart frem reserves, be used as required for building sites' when and where practicable. The committee further recommended the council to make inquiries from the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, as to the terms and conditions for a loan of £20,000 for a borough housing scheme, to be raised by instalments as required. The committee asked for authority to proceed with the levelling and formation of vacant borough reserves wherever practicable, and recommended that, apart from the Carnegie Public Library and the blockhouse in Jellicoe Park, all buildings owned by tho council should be brought under the control of the committees concerned and that a property and hoAing account be opened in the council's books. One Dissentient Mr. F. Gilchrist asked if it was proposed to take a poll of ratepayers. Mr. W. J. Moore explained that in the initial stages it was proposed merely to open negotiations with the Government. Mr. Gilchrist: I shall definitely oppose any scheme of this sort. The council should not saddle itself with any such work, which properly belongs to the Government. If the scheme develops, I contend that the question of raising the money should be referred to the ratepayers. The committee's recommendations were then adopted. Mr. Gilchrist being tho only dissentient.