SOLICITUDE FOR WORKERS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17544, 10 April 1919, Page 2

SOLICITUDE FOR WORKERS.

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ALTRUISM

PROPOSED BUILDING SCHEME

At the meeting of the Borough Council last night a special committee made the following recommendations in regard to a proposal to erect municipal dwellings: That Lhe dwellings be erected by day labour, nnd be constructed of brick, or grave? or coke breeze concrete, the Council supplying its own materials wherever possible, and employing a competent overseer; that the, houses contain 3, 4, and 5 rooms, and all conveniences, the rents to be 10/-, 12/6, and 15./- per week tespectively; that tho Council authorise the erection of 50 dwellings, twelve of which are to be commenced as early «s possible; that the three-roomed houses be semi-detached; that the first piece csf land to be utilised for the purpose be that bounded by Cat-.! ton Avenue, Handley and Anson Streets. The Mayor said that as chairman ov tho committee he would move that the leport bo received and referred to the incoming council for -their consideration. Councillor Sigley's suggestion that the Borough should l>e its own builder and thus eliminate all private profits -was an admirable one. At tho same time, the matter had teen brought forward so late that it was impossible for the present Council to do anything. . The moneys must be raised by a loan. Whether by a poU or by a special resolution of the Council, the necessary steps would take at least a couple . of. months. The rents fixed ■would not pay interest and sinking fund on the -necessary outlay and also [ a fair rent, for the land. In Councillor Sigley'3 phrase the Borough would have to "sitbsidise" the scheme. At first sight that appeared quite proper but tihe rate of wages fixed by the Arbitration Court depended largely on the cost of living. If that decreased the emplo3'er had the right to represent tha* wage* should decrease too. In the event of the Borough building houses and letting them at a loss the employer would have the right to come to th© court and poinifc out that rents had Irecome lower, that it cost the worker less to live fend that accordingly wages should come down. If such considerations prevailed the Borough "subsidy" would benefit not the worker butt the employer. That was a danger to be guarded against. He himse'f thought it test to give the workers an interest. in their own homes by enabling them to beoomo the owners of them. The Council had powers to do so. They coUld build homes and sell them to the worker, ot* lease land and advance money.' This was, he thought, a much superior scheme to letting homes at a weekly rent. It would encourage Workers'to improve thelf prdpertfee. • Ci- Sigley Supported the hidtiOn. They had affirmed thp> principle it was necessary for the municipality to build homes for workers. He did not know that the adv"'4"-acv of a freehold tenure applied, as the- Government had -larger powers to assist the workers whereas the Council had oiil va limited number of-"ratepayers, -tile "basis of the tiling was to see that the workers had decent homes to live in. If reduced to a commercial proposition they could never build", homes for the workers and they had failoc! in tho past through no fault of their own, They should be able to build a house for £400 or £500 that Would last 50 yeai-s. Ih the course of his business he visited tharty workers' hflmes find he strongly urgjed the need there was to brighten the workers' lives. y . ... , Cr. Luxfoi'd pointed out i* was not a new scheme and they had a'ready built several hoijoeß. During tho war 'the'j Council could not, have launched out, but now thu position, was different. It ■was the dii% <rf local bMies to provide homes for workers as the capitalists were not doing so. The suggestions Were quite practical. Workers should be allowed to buy their own homes. They should provide for the floating, population as welt. In the dying hours ; the Council could not go fully into the Scheme.1 The question of the Council ] owning its own brick kiln should be »"e-' vived. By day labour the Council could eliminate contractors^ profits. , Mr. Liffitoft questioned whether con-! tracts were not besft, seeing that the | Borough engineer* already had hfs ] hands full. He did not see how they i could fix rents before knowing the cost. I Ho did not think the time had arrived in Wanganui to build Henri-detached i houses as that might create slums. j Or. Harkness considered it was tlm j Council's duty to go into the matter : keedng the land theyJiad id'e. He <lid | hot approve of the site and favoured a site n.t Springvale, i Cr. Burnett hoped the new Council j wouM go in for a big comprehensive ' scheme, as twelve houses would not j hieet the demand. They should build j on a business basis and wot let the j houses at a loss. The scheme was feas- j ible by contractor day work, but the actual building should he by contract, j Or. S.'ipper said the proposal was well founded that would give the earnest .j worker a home oF his own. The question of supervision. If they could not start | at tho rental and work back to^tho , h&use itvvould be letter to drop the house. He approved of the site suggested. The Mayor added it was desirable that th-p Springvale estate should be developed, but a lot of work would be necessary. He looked forward to it being the garden Buburb. The College Estate had missed its chance in this respect. Tho motion was carried.

Tho Mayor next moved: That in the opinion of this Council no scheme of erecting workers' homes -will be satisfactory nn'ess it makes provision for workers who so desire to either become the owners of tho same or at the least be entitled to the benefit of the improvements effected by them on the land.

Cr. Gower: Why the motion seeing we have decided to refer the matter to the new Council?

The Mayor said it was merely an expression of opinion they were entitled to give. Or. Sigley Paid the possibility of parting with " a portion of the reserves opened up a very big question. He moved that the matter be held over until the next meeting for discussion. Cr. Burnett opposed on principle any part-in? with Borough reserves. The Mayor pointed out it was not necessary the land should be Borough reserves. The motion was not pressed and the amendment was carried.