HOUSING ACCOMODATION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16795, 20 July 1920, Page 3

HOUSING ACCOMODATION.

HARBOUR BOARD’S COTTAGES. MUCH ADO -ABOUT NOTHING. There has been considerable discuseion during ‘the last week or two with reference to buildings erected by the • New Plymouth Harbour Board for the accommodation of men engaged at the quarry. The matter first came before the notice of the public generally when Mr. R. Day (borough-inspector) submitted a report to the Borough Council with reference to the buildings. Mr. went into various details concerning the construction of the buildings, but a considerable portion of his report was beside the question. A copy of the report was forwarded by the Borough Council to the Harbour Board and was read at a meeting of the latter body on Friday last. During the discussion, Mr.. Blair Mason, the board’s engineer, expressed surprise that a public officer should have made such a report, -which he termed as a gross exaggeration. Since the Harbour Board meeting on Friday representatives of the Herald have made an inspection of both buildings and have ho "hesitation. in saying that such a report was unwarranted. The buildings, _of which there are two, are divided Into three tenements each containing a room 12 xl2 and a kitchen 13 s 6. The larger rooms are Sail match-lined from< floor to ceiling and are certainly very comfortable. The kitchens, which are fitted with ranges, are unlined and there is no doubt it would be possible therefore “if steak and onions w r ere being cooked in one for the neighbours to smell .the feast,” as Mr. Day says. This is not common, however, to these buildings, .which were erected not as permanent dwellings but to provide comfortable accommodation for single men engaged on harbour works. Some single men, •however, are not particularly keen on occupying bachelors’ quarters and have preferred to forgo the accommodation and stay at an hotel; feeling no doubt - that with the increased wages they are recoiling compared with those of a few years ago they can afford to pay board, instead of “doing for themselves.”’ Two of the tenements are, however, still occupied by single men , and married men gladly availed them-' solves of the remainder, and married men and their wives, and single men, too, have very little fault to find. _ One man who is baching stated emphatically that they were lucky to be able to get such accommodation and that if they were not satisfied that they wouldspon “get.” The married couples considered they are equally fortunate apd one lady said she found the quarters far, preferable to having a room and use of a kitchen in town. There was, she said, no comparison. , -*• The site occupied by the buildings is an ideal one on a sunny cliff overlook- , ing the beach beneath Paritutu. Each tenement occupied by married people is provided with a closet and drainage. Some complaint furs Been made of the latter, which consists of a wooden box drain underground discharging over a small cliff, where the water is soaked up. The water is poured on to a small , tray with wire-netting to catch potato" peelings, etc. ‘ Complaint has been made that the drain is not airtight, but this is an advantage rather than otherwise from- the sanitary point of view. At present the drain is not in the least offensive and should it become sp later the board could easily make improvements. Few of the cottages on . the beach have such good provision.

At times the rain drives under the front doors of one or two of the tenements, but this is a matter which ban be easily remedied and we ■ have no doubt will be attended to by the board. The kitchens, too, the tenants say, and one must agree with them, would he far more comfortable if they were lined similarly to the front rooms, and we would commend this to the Harbour Board, all the members of which are desirous, wo are sure, of doing all that is reasonable to ensure the comfort of the tenants.

Something was said by Mr. Day in his report as to profiteering on the part of the Harbour Board. The buildings, he said, could be erected for £2OO each, and as the board was receiving 8s a week for each tenement the rent he considered excessive. Mr. Day, we feel, could not have made himself fully conversant with the position or he surely would never have found fault in this respect, for the Bs, it should have been pointed out, also covered ail the wood and coal required by the tenants. By the way, water is also laid on to the cottages. To-day the rent is 10s s week, the additional 2s' having been charged because the electric light has been installed.

To sum the whole position up, the report to the Borough Council was uncalled for. The council naturally has to place some reliance on its officers, hut in this case the Herald representa- . tive feels that had- councillors first inspected the properties the report would never haw been forwaVded to the board. The # tenants are far more comfortable than they could possibly be living in rooms and having to share conveniences with other families such • as many families are. having to do in New Plymouth at the present time owing to the great .scarcity of houses.