HOUSES hi MIRAMAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11190, 21 April 1922, Page 5

HOUSES hi MIRAMAR

INDIGNANT TENANTS

PROTESTS AGAINST ALLEGED EXCESSIVE VALUATIONS. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. Valuationr: of the workers’, dwellings erected under the Governmenthousing scheme at Miramar was discussed at a well attended' mooting ol the occupants of the houses last week. The general opinion expressed was that tlio values recently' placed on tho dwellings by the Valuation Department were very unsatisfactory; as in most cases, it was said, they' were from £2OO to £SOO over and above the actual purchasing price being paid by tho occupants to the Government. It is stated that tho. cheaper houses have been assessed at a. higher value than the more expensive dwellings, which are of ithe same design and stand oil the same area of ground. In view of this anomaly it was decided to approach the Minister for Labour with the object of having tho valuations revised. The- whole of the papers connected with the transactions between the occupants and the housing department have been placed in the hands of a firm of solicitors for advice, and action will be taken according to the legal recommendation thus obtained. A “Times” reporter was yesterday informed that although the department had given an undertaking not to take any further action until tins legal advice had been secured, a number of tenants have within the past few days received notices from the housing ■ authorities threatening them -with legal action for the recovery of the properties unless the agreements with the department for purchase of the dwellings are signed within seven days.

IMPROVEMENTS WANTED. FOOTPATHS AND LIGHTEN^. Representations are being made ito the City Council by the occupants of the houses erected under the Governjment housing scheme at Miramar for ithe construction of a footpath fronting the properties in Broadway and Monoruan roads. The application is based upon the increasing ampunt of traffic on Broadway. The laying down of footpaths was held up for some time through the construction of the main sewer serving the houses, but . that work has now been completed so far as the principal street is concerned. The surface, however, consists of loose sandy soil, which creates a considerable nuisance to the tenants of the houses when the high winds so prevalent an ithe district blow up. The occupants also desire further lighting of the streets, and another want, which is to be represented to the ■ Telegraph. Department, is a slot telephone in- a handy position. The City Council is also to be asked to provide a tram shelter shed at the junction of the Broadway and Miramar lines.