HUTT VALLEY HOUSING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 76

HUTT VALLEY HOUSING.

A COMPREHENSIVE SCHEME (F.rom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, February 26. In announcing this morning the names of tho successful architects in the compeition for the most satisfactory design for workers’ dwellings for the Itutt Valley housing scheme, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates roughly outlined the history of the general scheme. “It will be remembered,” said Mr Coates, “that the Government acquired a large area in the Hutt Valley for residential settlement. Options for most of the land were originally secured by Mr W. T. Strand (Mayor of Lower Hutt) and taken over by the Government, the idea being to serve the district by a branch railway and dispose of the area on a betterment principle, loading the land not only with the usual charges, but with the cost of constructing the railway. The whole scheme has been actively prosecuted, and good progress is now being made in the building of the line and subdividing the land. The latter should be ready for throwing open to the public in the very near future. “As a result of my personal observation, I was fully convinced, however, that urgent measures were necessary, and that before slum areas could be abolished provision would have to be made quickly to absorb tlie ejected tenants and generally relieve the shortage. As the outcome of a suggestion made by Mr Strand to the Hon. Mr M'Leod and myself, the Government agreed to set apart some 35 acres (known as Mendel’s block) of the Hutt Valley settlement land to erect thereon workers’ dwelling for disposal under the State advances to workers’ scheme. The settlement of this particular block has been handed over by the Government to an honorary committee of public-spirited gentlemen with wide professional and business experience, and the manner in which the scheme has progressed reflects the valuable services that have been rendered. The committee promptly had the subdivision carried out, and as a commencement arranged with the Railways Department to secure 50 xcady-cut houses from the Frankton house factory. Contracts for the erection of these houses were then let, and it i& anticipated that they will be ready for occupation shortly. To indicate the interest taken in the scheme I may say that already over 300 applications have been received from the city and suburbs for consideration in connection with the first 50 houses. “The next step taken by the honorary committee was to invite architects throughout the Dominion to submit competitive designs for workers’ dwellings of four and five rooms. The response has been most marked, 178 designs having been submitted, which, as far as can be gathered, constitutes a record so far as the Dominion is concerned, the previous record being 75 from New Zealand in a world-wide competition. The Government is most anxious to maintain the splendid progress, and consideration is now being given to the question in order to make. the necessary financial arrangements for a further batch on the same block. Tenders for erection in wood, brick, and concrete on the lines of the successful design will be then iuvited. Much valuable information with regard to housing has already been gleaned from tho work of tho honorary committee, and other important fields of investigation are being exploited. The results have been so satisfactory that the Government recently communicated with the municipalities offering to place all its facilities at their disposal to encourage a vigorous house-building policy, particularly for wage-earners. In this connection the Government is prepared to assist local bodies in arranging the necessary finance for this proposal, and the Railway Department will sell cut-to-fit houses at practically cost price on trucks at Frankton Junction. The department is also prepared to arrange contracts and supervise the erection of houses. In addition, all the experience that has been gained by the Government will be available to those municipalities that are anxious to relieve the houso shortage by taking advantage of the facilities placed at their disposal. I have therefore Invited them to send representatives to Wellington at an early date fully to discuts proposals with me. “In conclusion,” said Mr Coates, “I desire to express appreciation of the valuable services that have been rendered to the community by the honorary advisory commltteo. The good work carried out by It will not only result in better houses for a great nunmber of people at rentals considerably below tlioso now being paid, but has also resulted in a largo saving of public money, inasmuch as all services aro being rendored gratuitously.’*