NEED FOR HOUSES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 4

NEED FOR HOUSES

Position Grows Worse Each Month Preferential Waiting List Exceeds 90 “There are more than 90 preferential applications for State houses in the district and the position is becoming worse every month,” said the Rehabilitation Officer at Timaru (Mr A. N. Campbell) yesterday. The Timaru Rehabilitation District includes the Waimate, Fairlie, Temuka and Geraldine areas. Four State houses at Timaru were allocated by the Rehabilitation Department for possession in June and two will be allocated at Temuka, Mr Campbell added. During May, two were allocated at Timaru and two at Temuka.

When the No. 10 Carpentry Training Centre at Timaru completes its fourmonths’ course on June 27, the 12 trainees, under the supervision of Departmental instructors, will begin the erection of State houses at Timaru. Every four mon ms a similar number of trainees will be placed on the erection of State houses in the district, explained Mr Campbell. These men are paid by the Rehabilitation Department and will be engaged on the construction of State houses for 20 months, by the end of which time their two years’ carpentry trailing will have been completed. Register Increases x The allocation of State houses is but one of the jobs being done by the Rehabilitation Department. It is disclosed in the Rehabilitation Officer’s report for May that there are 2048 exservicemen and women on the register of the Timaru Rehabilitation district. At the end of May last year the number was 1489, showing an increase of nearly 600 in the last 12 months. Covering the Timaru. Waimate, Fairlie, Geraldine and Temuka districts, the total of 2048 on the register at present includes 1251 men and 41 women returned from overseas service and 707 men and 49 women from home service. Those of the total who have returned to their preservice employment comprise 284 men and two women from overseas and 340 men and 17 women from home service. The Rehabilitation Department has found positions for 142 men from overseas and 52 men and six women from home service. Positions have been found for themselves by 268 men and four women from overseas and 130 men and 12 women from home service. Returning to their own businesses have been 27 men from overseas and 33 men and one woman from home service, while 23 overseas men and 25 homeservicemen have returned to their own farms. Acquiring their, own businesses since their return to civil life have been 33 overseas men and 15 homeservicemen; 23 overseas men and five homeservicemen have acquired their own farms since demobilisation.

“There are 36 A grade farmers on the Department’s register seeking farms in South Canterbury,” said Mr Campbell, “and the Department is concerned at the poor type of farm being placed on the market at present and being all that is available for these men.” Assistance Granted During May meetings were held by the Timaru, Waimate, Fairlie, Geraldine and Temuka Rehabilitation Committees and assistance was granted as follows: Seven housing loans totalling £BOOO. four business loans £2140. three furniture loans £3OO and two special grants of financial assistance, both being of £lO. To-morrow, June 1. the office of the Rehabilitation Department is to be transferred from Stafford Street north to the building at the corner of Church and Sophia Streets. The Servicemen’s Employment Division will operate in Timaru from tomorrow, the National Service Department. acting as agents for the Rehabilitation Department, undertaking to find employment for all returned men. This did not mean that the men would be directed to jobs, maintained Mr Campbell, but that all the facilities for securing employment possessed by the National Service Department would be placed at the disposal of the Rehabilitation Department.