WAIMATE STATE HOUSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21308, 30 March 1939, Page 3

WAIMATE STATE HOUSES

Department’s Fencing Requirements

Council Declines To Comply

Strong criticism of a request from the State Housing Department that the council should remove fences adjacent to the State houses and replace them with fences of approved design was expressed at the special meeting of the Waimate Borough Council on Tuesday. The council, after discussion, decided not to accede to the request and, if necessary, to consult the Borough solicitor in framing a reply. It was also resolved to write to the Minister of Housing (Hon. H. T. Armstrong) outlining the council’s objections. "With a view to providing a neat, attractive and durable fence at a cost as low as possible, and which will ensure the requisite protection to adjoining owners as well as to the tenants of State houses,” wrote the Department, “a standard fence embodying these qualities has been designed and which it is hoped will meet with your approval. The posts and strainers being of reinforced concrete and wire and heavy gauge netting of the best quality will prove stable and lasting and reduce maintenance to a minimum. In addition the Department is able to provide the fencing at a very reasonable cost. The actual erected cost of the type of fence suggested, and which is fully described in the statutory notice will be £6/12/- a chain.” “The council erected in its Belt Street reserve a similar fence of wood and wire, and the tenant has grown a nice live fence there too,” said the Mayor (Mr G. Dash). “This fence is acceptable to both tenants, State and private, and is a legal dividing fence. There is another, a nice olaria, that they want to pull out to replace with concrete and wire.

The Town Clerk (Mr B. S. Runciman) said that the council was asked to contribute £6/19/- towards the work. Cr S. I. Fitch said it would be ridiculous to destroy a perfectly good live fence to put in another of almost similar design. Mr Dash added that to destroy .1 good live fence for one of concrete posts and wire was an absurd idea. After further discussion, the council agreed to take action as above. 1