WORKMEN'S HOMES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14237, 1 July 1910, Page 3

WORKMEN'S HOMES.

To the Editir of th(j "Timaru Herald." Sir, —Your report of the Borough '' ijist did not do, tin' liiir ciuay, by me. I moved a motion about workmen's liomes, and a.iiol/ier motion, that I did not move, was published in its place. Then not a word ol what I said in support of Ely motion Has reported, wlule the seconder and some critics were reported. The motion I moved was —"That the Borough Council obtain from tlio Government the gaol grounds for the purpose Of erecting workmen's homes thevt-on." In support of the above motion, I stated that if the Government handed back the gaol grounds (which originally belonged to the Council), the Council might then consider the advisability of erecting workmen's homes on the gaol reserve a> well as on the gaol grounds, if they considered the matter favourably and got permission. I argued that they could creet on the whole grounds fifty workmen's homes, say at a cost of £350 each, which would mean that the Council would have to borrow £17,500, at say 4 per cent, under the State Guaranteed Advances Act. If such a number of houses were built at the above cost, and the £17.•",•;() borrowed at 4 per cent, the Council could afford to rent them at 5s Cd a week to pay the interest, and adding 2s per week for expenses and other contingencies, i Tliis I argued would bo a great help to the number of working men who i would be lucky enough to get one of j the cottages, and the scheme would t ha no inconvenience to the Council or expense to the. ratepayers. as the 2s per week would meet the depreciation, upkeep and expenses in connection ■with the bmldincrs. Unt on the other hand I pointed out that the water charges on the 50 houses would increase the revenue of the Council.

Hoping ynu will have last night's report of the Council meeting corrected. —I am, etc. W. ANGLAND. Timaru, 29-G-']o.

[The motion published was the one given not'ee of, and supplied to Councillors and reporters; no indication was given that it was curtailed before br*inn; seconded, and the discussion dea't also with the portion dropped—the loan proposal. The report might have given Councillor An gland's argument but the reporter couriered the objections to it" of more importance, and t'lie vctino- supported that opinion.— Ed. T.H.]