Details of Scheme.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 8

Details of Scheme.

Cottage Homes

Conservative Policy Followed. RETAILS concerning the Cottage Homes Settlement scheme for disabled returned soldiers were given at a meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association last night, when Mr T. L. Drummopd answered a number of questions.* Mr Drummond said that though it was not impossible for the scheme to fail he hoped that it would not, and the precaution had been taken of securing the co-operation of men of financial standing and integrity who were following a conservative policy. Mr Drummond said that the Finance Committee of the Cottage Homes Settlement was rather insistent to obtain information from the association regarding its immediate future requirements and the number of men who were prepared to go into the cottages. The Finance Committee contended that it could not go before the public and ask for £20,000 or £30,000 without particulars of specific cases and without being able to claim that the matter was one. of urgency. Mr W. E. Leadley said the Finance Committee wanted to be able to assure the public that money was required urgently. He moved that the Benevolent Committee be asked to interview some of the most needy applicants that came before it and prepare a list of such cases and inquire from them whether they were prepared to go into the cottages when erected; also that the committee take steps to obtain similar information from the Pensions Department and Major Dry, of the Salvation Army Men’s Home. The motion whs carried. Details of Scheme. The questions submitted by Mr Grant were then dealt with, the answers being given by Mr Drummond. Mr Drummond said the cost of roadmaking and street lighting was being borne by the City Council, free of cost to the committee. The cost of repairs and general upkeep of the homes would be paid from the balance of the £25,000 it was hoped would be provided by the public. Nothing had yet been arranged regardifl£ a caretaker at the settlement, but the idea Mr Drummond had in mind was that the caretaker would be given free lodgings and not paid wages. A rent of approximately Is a month would be' charged to the tenants, whether married or single. With regard to rates and insurance the committee was still negotiating with the City Council with a view to legislation being passed exempting the settlement from rates. Expulsion from the settlement, said Mr Drummond, would be the penalty for neglect of a cottage and failure to keep it clean. The question of appointing trustees for the settlement was under consideration and it was hoped that the District Public Trustee would be one of the trustees. “ That question has not been thought of b3' the Administration Committee,” said Mr Drummond, in reply to a question whether, in the event of the death of a married man, his widow would continue to occupy the cottage as provided for married couples.