WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16513, 25 August 1921, Page 7

WORKERS’ DWELLINGS.

THE LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS. POWERS OF MUNICIPALITIES, Extensive powers in connection with workers’ dwellings were conferred upon municipalities by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920. In view of the interest displayed in the subject at the present time, the following provisions of the Act are printed below rIf not inconsistent with the context: DEFINITIONS. “ Worker ” includes every person, male or female, who is employed in work of any kind, “Workers’ dwellings” include lodg-ing-houses as well as separate dwellinghouses. The expression also includes any land, not exceeding three acres, appurtenant to a dwelling. COUNCILS’ POWERS. The council may, on any land purchased, acquired or appropriated by it for the purpose, either within the borough or adjacent thereto, erect for occupation by workers employed or resident in the borough, any buildings suitable for workers’ dwellings, or may purchase or otherwise acquire any buildings with or -without land for such purpose, and may convert any buildings into workers’ dwellings, and may alter, enlarge, repair and improve the same respectively., and fit up, furnish and supply the same or any of them respectively with ail requisite furniture, fittings and conveniences. The council may make by-laws in reference to the letting of Workers’ dwellings. The council shall manage and control every worker’s dwelling that' it' so fits up, furnishes and supplies aforesaid. The council may make reasonable charges for the tenancy or occupation of the workers’ dwellings provided under this part of the Act. The acquiring of land and the erection of workers’ dwellings for the purposes of this part of the Act shall be deemed a public work within the meaning of the Public Works Act, 1908. LOANS AND ADVANCES. In addition to the powers conferred upon councils by the last preceding section, a council may—(a) Let to a worker, for the purpose of a worker’s dwelling, any land (not being land reserved for or held upon trust for mirposes of recreation) which it is empowered to lease for any purpose for a term not exceeding twentyone year, and may either itself erect a worker’3 dwelling thereon or may lend money to the lessee to enable him to erect a worker’s dwellin'- thereon, and may provide for the repayment of any such Joan, with interest, by instalments hereinafter mentioned. Any such lease may be granted on any of the tenancies authorised by Section 5 of the Public Bodies’ Leases Act, 1908. If such lease is granted on the terms mentioned in the first or in the second schedule of that Act, then t 0 the extent to which the workers’ dwelling has been paid for by the lessee (whether out of his own moneys or by repayments by instalments of the loan moneys) the worker’s dwelling shall be deemed an improvement effected by the lessee during his tenancy. (b) Advance money to a worker to enable him to erect a worker’s dwelling on any land of which he is the owner, or to acquire land and erect a worker’s dwelling thereon, and may provide for the repayment of the advance with interest bv instalments. (e) Sell to a worker any separate worker’s dwelling on s,uch terms as tho council thinks fit, and, in particular, may provide for the payment- of the purchase money (after deducting tho amount of any deposit paid by the purchaser) with interest by instalments. In any case mentioned in this section where money is advanced to a worker, or any purchase money is unpaid, interest shall be paid at a rate not exceeding 54 per cent per annum. SPECIAL LOAN. The council may, by special order and without taking the steps prescribed by Sections 8 to 12 of the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1913, raise a special loan for any of the purposes mentioned in this part of this Act.