COUNTRY WORKERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 3

COUNTRY WORKERS.

COUNTY COUNCILS’ POWERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) 'WELLINGTON, December 2. The lot of country workers so far as the difficulty that exists of obtaining homes is concerned should be considerably improved when an. important clause contained in the Counties Amendment Bill comes into force. This Bill was dealt with in committee this evening, and this clause (instructed 'by the Statutes Revision Committee) was very favourably commented on by speakers from all sides of the House. It is provided in the first place that any county council may erect or purchase workers’ dwellings suitable for occupation by workers. In purchasing land for this purpose the sizes of the sections are limited'(according to an amendment made this evening) to five acres for first-class land, to 10 acres for second-class land, and to 20 acres for third-class land. The council is to make by-laws in reference to the letting of workers’ dwellings, and is also to manage and control every worker’s dwelling that it puts up. In acquiring land for this special purpose the council is empowered to deem the work a “ public work” within the meaning of “The Public Works Act, 1903.” An extensive clause, supplementary to the foregoing, outlines the modes by which the county council may deal with workers’ dwellings. It may in the first place grant a 21 years’ lease, and may itself erect the dwellings or lend money for that purpose. It may lend money to purchase the section and erect the* dwellings, and finally it may sell to a worker his home. The interest payable is fixed at 5 per cent. In suggesting the amendment about limiting the size of the section according to the class of land, the Prime Minister mentioned that at present the Government was cutting up some land in South Canterbury, which aimed at providing homes on five acres of land. This particular land was very good, and had cost nearly £SO an acre.