CITIZENS RESPOND

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23260, 23 July 1945, Page 4

CITIZENS RESPOND

Hornes For Homeless j Families MAYOR’S APPEAL BRINGS RESULTS In response to his appeal lor houses, flats and rooms for homeless citizens, the Mayor of Tiinaru <Mr A. E. S. Hanan) had received, before the weekend, offers of 15 rooms, part of a house and a cottage. Most of the rooms were single ones, but two double rooms with the use of conveniences were also made available, and Mr Hanan was advised ol a house which could be subdivided, giving an extra three-roomed flat. A generous offer was received from a Washdyke resident who has offered half of her house, with the use of all conveniences, until Christmas. This will be ideally suitable for someone waiting for a State or Borough Council house or for a disabled serviceman who does not come into Tiinaru for day work, Mr Hanan said yesterday. Another offer readily accepted was of a cottage which needed some repairs cione. It was offered to anyone who cared Io fix the windows and do some other work about the place—Mr Hanan put a returned serviceman in touch* with the landlord and he is now living there rent-free. The one flat offered so far has been let to a repatriated prisoner of war. Mr Hanan expressed his thanks to those residents who had answered his appeal, but he mentioned again that there* were still a few empty houses in Timaru, some of which had been untenanted lor years. Owners certainlv had the ria,hi to do as they wished with their property, but he could not understand. Mr Hanan said, why these houses should be allow; d to remain empty and deteriorating. In view of tile return of meh (rem. overseas, especially prisoners of war. Mr Hanan again appealed to all residents who could share their homes by sub-dividing into flats or by letting rooms, to do so. Several ol the hou as which are being built under Borough Council finance are expected to be* ready for occupation by Christmas, and the Council’s propo. il to e’-ect houses from Army hut material should also alleviate the housmr<_shorl ace.