WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19250, 14 August 1924, Page 3

WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

MODEST BUILDING SCHEME AITKOVHD. CUT COUNCIL AS LANDLORD. The City Council Lad before it just, night supplementary reports from its Wonts and Finance Committees containing a. promts ing scheme for providing seven now fiveroom eel houses on the bank of the Leith opposite the IvelscvA araila Kindergarten. The Works Committee reported having given consideration to the question of utilising the City Council’s land, known as too Shingle Reserve, situated on the blocs bounded by the W ater of Leith, Clyde street. Union street, and Forth street, as n site for workers’ dwellings. Ihe area appeared to be eminently suitable for the purpose. It would provide sites for seven bouses as per plan laid on the table, site measuring approximately lOCft x 40ft. The frontage was to Clyde street and to a. roadwav facing the Water of Leith. 1 lans prepared by tho oily building surveyor were laid on the table, showing five-roomed houses in wood and iron, on concrete foundations, with all modern conveniences, including bath, hot water, and electric light, which the building surveyor states should be erected for £675 per bouse, ano pioposal was that tho houses should be let to tenants at an economic rental which would cover all charges for interest, sinking fund, and maintenance. r lbe committee was oi the opinion that tho opportunity was her® presented of making an early start, it even in a modest way. with the housing scheme, and therefore bogged to recommend that authority be granted to invite tenders at tho earliest possible date for the erection of seven five-roomed houses on the sue m question at an estimated cost of £6(5 per house Drainage would be by drain- ncommon at an additional cost of & » a further sum would be required for fencing of approximately £llO. It was not intended that the carrying of the ProP o^l now put forward should necessarily be accepted as an indication that the po JU7. the council in this matter was to provide homes for letting to tenants The council, would have a further opportunity of daliberating on the whole question "hen the committee presented a further repoit. Ihc Finance Committee reported that it, bad considered the financial bearing of the proposal submitted by tho Works Committee to incur expenditure of approximately £SOOO on a preliminary housing scheme. The nionev required would need to be raised bv wav of loan, which could bo authorised by ihc passing of a special ( or ™\ (Jr Taverner moved the adoption of botli rC The motion was seconded by Cr Wilson, who said this was an opportunity for renting houses at a minimum cost, and the committee recommended its acceptance. Cr Clark said that, in his opinion these houses could not he let, at a sufficiently low rent to meet those who most needed TT o™' 0 ™' inodntion. They would bring fed to 255. They required houses at not mote lh Cr ho admitted that these houses could not be let to a certain class of people, but when they were occu Pj® f t hev would liberate seven other houses that would bo suitable for these people Cr Sincock said they would have to charge somewhere in tho vicinity of 20s for these • Twenty-three shillings. Cr Sincock: What interest are you reckoning on? Or Taverner: Seven per cent. Cr Sincocs. contended that these houses would be too expensive for the ordinary worker. The council would now have to apply itself to the larger question of‘finding housing accommodation for those who were now living in hovels. He strongly criticised the Government for finding groat sums tot the farming community, while it could promise only a paltry £SOOO for housing in the city of Dunedin. It tho Government would not do it out of consolidated revenue the council would to forced to borrow a large sum lo meet the position. Or NlacManus said that a cheaper scheme had been suggested that deserved every consideration. He complained of tho opportunities for providing bousing lost in the past. Private enterprise had absolutely failed to provide sufficient houses He was gratified that the question was at last being seriously grappled with. Cr Begg asked for an assurance that these houses would get into the hands of people who could not get houses, and not of those who wished to sell houses they already had. Gr Taverner said tins point raised by Cr Begg would not bo overlooked; This was onl> a small effort, and they did not wish it to be mistaken for anything else. Neither did they indicate that other schemes would be on similar lines. If a largo sum like £IOO.OOO were required later, even though the law gave them power to raise Jt without consulting tho ratepayers, they intended to consult them. The council had followed the policy of avoiding the position of landlord ns far as possible, but that policy was now being amended. They trusted the council would be a, model landlord. About 23s a week on these houses wou!d < pay all standing charges. They were making no charge for the land. Cr Wilson said they need not be surprised if the Housing Committee were to bring down a scheme for people living in one, two, and tbrec-roomed houses Ho thought the council ought to grapple with this problem oven at a loss to itself, for no private owner would take it up. Tlie Deputy Mayor (Cr J. S. . Douglas) expressed appreciation of the keen interest Cr Wilson had always taken in the housing question. Hie report was adopted.