WORKERS’ DWELLINGS TANGLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 14

WORKERS’ DWELLINGS TANGLE

Will Parliament Act ? CR. LUNDON SAYS IT WILL “Carpeting” at Trades Hall INNUENDO that Cr. T. Bloodworth had been put “on the mat” at the Trades Hall over his attitude toward the workers’ dwellings question was made by Cr. J. R. Lundon at last evening’s City Council meeting. Cr. Lundon said that the Labour Party had taken up the whole thing and something would be heard in the House next week. After a warm debate the council declined Cr. Lundon access to a certain report dealing with values of the dwellings.

Tli© workers’ dwellings problem lias exercised the attention of the council for many months and it was decided recently that a sum of £3,900, being the unexpended balance in the loan account out of which the houses at Grey Lynn were originally built, be spent on repair of the cottages if Parliament’s sanction can be obtained. Cr. Lundon has made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the way a sub-committee of the Finance Committee lias handled an investigation into complaints about tli© habitability of the houses. J-Ie { wanted the council to write off a per- | centago of the original high cost of the l houses to afford relief to purchasers, i many of whom were in arrears with * mortgage payments. The councillor has said that council experts had recommended that mortgages be written down. WANTED THE REPORT Writing on September 3, Cr. Lundon asked to be supplied with agendas for all committee meetings and copies of the report of Messrs. Maxwell and Notley, officers of the council, on the workers’ dwellings at Grey Lynn. Tho Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, moved that the requests be declined, but Cr. . H. Murray moved an amendment asking that all members of the coun- « cil receive copies of the report. “I think the council should know the contents of the report before it can judge whether the finding of its committee is proper and just,” Cr. Murray said. “It is not the first time that, this particular report has been asked for on the floor of the council.” Cr. G. W. Hutchison contended that*’ any comment on the council’s decision on the workers’ dwellings was not in acordancc with standing orders. “What is there to hide?” asked Cr. Murray. “Why should the council not see tho report on which the finding of tho committee was based? It is a public question, and has not been finished with by a long way, in spite of the report brought down to the council. X cannot see that any harm will result by providing all councillors with the report.” REPORT ALREADY SEEN Ci-. .T. R. Lundon seconded the amendment, saying that the council had already seen a portion of the City \ aluer’s report, as a result of a letter he had written. This had said that the value of the dwellings, since they were bought by the occupants, had depreciated 22* per cent. “How many of you know that the Labour Party is holding an investigation into this report?” asked Lr. Lundon, “Cr. Bloodworth and Cr Bartram can tell you that the Labour Party is beginning to be interested. “Surely councillors should be in a position to know the whole of what is in the report. I challenge the production of it in order to show that its dato was long before the sub-commit-te© was set up. I assert that the finance Committee itself, at no thru* took the evidence of a single owner! \\ by should the report bo kept in a cloister? Tf there has been that depreciation, then it is up to the council in addition to what it has found, to face the necessity of writing down the values of tho dwellings. 1 want to tell the Mayor and the council that the question is coming up in Parliament next week. You are not going to side-track this. If we are not ! going to get the facts on which the I

finding was based by any other means, wo will get it through Parliament. That is a fact, not a threat. A certain individual will be on the mat before the Labour Party, if he has not already been, in connection with this question. “He took exception to a remark made previously by a councillor that he doubted sometimes whether he (Cr. Lundon) was really Cr. Lundon or just a big overgrown schoolboy. BREEZE STIRS COUNCIL “I made that statement,” acknowledged Cr. Bloodworth, in opposing the amendment. Cr. Lundon: Point of order. Is that a statement your Worship thinks tit to be made about a councillor? Mr. Baildon: Cr. Bloodworth is in order. Cr. Lundon: Very well. I will use that to the best of my ability later on. Continuing, Cr. Bloodworth took Cr. Lundon up on the latter’s reference to a councillor being put on the mat in the Trades Hall. The speaker supposed he was that councillor. Explaining the incident he pointed out that one of the unions had quite properly asked him what had taken place over the workers' dwellings. Cr. Bloodworth hinted that the “carpeting” had been investigated through one. J. B. Prohl. an occupier of one of tlio houses. This man had written to the Trades Hall. “I have it in my mind that the hand was the hand of Prohl and the mind behind the letter, that of Cr. Lundon.” Cr. Lundon (heatedly): That is untrue. LETTER WITH A PLAN Cr. Bloodworth: I am of opinion that letter was written with the idea of bringing me on the mat. Prohl and Cr. Lundon thought they could get from me in that round-about way the very information Cr. Lundon is endeavouring to obtain here. Cr. Bloodworth remarked that he was a loyal member of the Labour Party, and that the party had never attempted to put him or any other member on the mat. . Voices: Hear, hear! “I make this statement.” added the councillor, “that the party either in Auckland or Wellington will accept my statements in preference to Cr. Lundon’s.” Cr. Bloodworth expressed the opinion that Cr. Lundon wanted the contents of the Notley-Maxwell report for evidence in a court case which he foresaw in connection with the workers’ dwellings. Cr. Lundon knew well enough what was in the report, he wanted it officially. Voices: Where does he get his information ? Cr. Bloodworth: He gets it very, very remarkably; he knew accuratelj’ who was present when I was supposed to have been put on the mat. Cr. Lundon (tartly):—And what will take place next week in the House. Cr. Bloodworth: I don’t see any reason why Cr. Lundon should be supplied with a copy of that report, because I am certain from experience that his object in getting the information is to use it to the detriment oil the council, not to its benefit. The council, with Cr. Lundon and Cr - If- Murray dissenting, declined the information. The Mayor remarked that there had already been expressions of satisfaction from the Grey Lynn colony with what the council proposed as remedial measures. If there was any undercurrent of dissatisfaction it was known whence it came.