MINISTER OF LANDS

Southland Times, Issue 23183, 26 April 1937, Page 7

MINISTER OF LANDS

VISIT TO GORE DEPUTATIONS HEARD The extent to which corrosion in the water mains had affected the pressure of water, and the need for action, has been recognized by the Gore Borough Council for some time, and a case for applying to the Minister of Employment (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) and the Loans Board for permission to raise a sum of money by debentures was placed before the Minister ot Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) on Saturday night by the Mayor of Gore (Mr A. T. Newman) when a deputation from the council waited on the Minister. Mr Newman said that the council had been experiencing some difficulty with the pressure in the water mains because of corrosion and would have to attend to it in the coming year. The council did not want to go to the Loans Board to raise a loan as this would necessitate a poll which would add £5O to £6O on to the cost. He thought that the Loans Board might give permission to raise the money required, about £lOOO, by debentures. Mr Newman also inquired if it would be possible to secure a subsidy from the Unemployment Board. The job would be suitable for unemployed men. The Minister said he thought it was a wise procedure to have the .work done by that method, without going to the expense of having a poll, and as the work provided for unemployed labour he thought the Loans Board would permit the debentures. He would see the Loans Board on the council’s behalf. He added that the member for Mataura (Mr D. McDougall) would also probably see the ' Loans Board for the council. Housing Scheme

A further request for exemption from the regulations under the housing scheme was placed before the Minister by the council. The Mayor said that there were no real slum areas at Gore or Overcrowding to any great degree, although a few houses would have to be condemned. It was also admitted that there was a shortage of houses. The council was fully acquainted with the position and suggested that instead of the house to house canvass as required by the regulations, which would involve considerable expenditure that the council be permitted to forward a plan to the department showing merely the requirements instead of a complete survey. The Minister said that what the Housing Department wanted was a true survey of all the houses in the Dominion. The council could perhaps carry out the inspection where it thought was necessary in the meantime, and could make a complete survery at a later date. He would make representations to the Housing Department on the council’s behalf. Forestry Camps

Messrs P. Marchant, J. Miller and A. Winning waited on the Minister with a request for improvements in afforestation camps. The points raised had all been put through the normal channels, and would be brought up again at the conference in June. They. desired, however, to acquaint the Minister with fact& Messrs Marchant and Miller urged the increasing of the rate of pay for men in forestry camps from 15/- to 16/- a day. Mr Miller said the men would also like the opportunity of doing contract work in afforestation camps. The Minister pointed out that where there were 12 or more men in a camp, the department provided a cook and firewood. Under this agreement the men were better off than those in Public Works camps at 16/-, as they had to pay for their own cooks. If they were not satisfied they could go on to the Public Works. Mr Winning asked for standardized tents. Their tents had 3ft 6in studs, whereas the standardized tents had sft studs. These would provide much more comfort for the men than at present. The Minister said he had not seen the South Island forestry camps and did not know what they were like. If they needed improving he would see that that was done. The North Island camps were very good and no complaints had been received. The Minister heard several other private deputations.