TRANSIT CENTRES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 117, 22 May 1946, Page 4

TRANSIT CENTRES

SUGGESTION TO WANGANUI CITY COUNCIL SHORTAGE OF DWELLINGS "I am prepared to explore every avenue open to us, but I believe the greatest drive should be toward building new homes; transit camps, after all, are only temporary,’ said the Mayor, Hon. W. J. Rogers, when the question ot establishing transit centres was before the Wanganui City Council at the monthly meeting last night. The acute housing position In the city was discussed at a recent meeting of the Rehabilitation Committee, stated a letter to the council. In view of lhe Government's offer to make available free ot cost through the Commissioner of Works. certain buildings in military camps no longer required, the Rehabilitation Department wished to know if the council had given consideration to the ouestion of establishing transit centres in Wanganui. Cr. A. J. Pritchard said the Rehabilitation Department had 271 applications from returned servicemen alone who required houses. Since last October only 14 State houses had been made available to ex-servicemen- In Wanganui at the present time, however, 84 houses were in the course of erection. Some were nearly finished, but their completion was delayed oy lack of materials. Moving that the letter from the Rehabilitation Department be referred to the Housing Sub-committee, the Mayor said this position was being very carefully watched. Transit camps were used elsewhere in the Dominion and the council had made some effort to relieve the housing situation by providing eight units. "The Housing Sub-committee could go into the question of transit camps, but there are no military camps near Wanganui," the Mayor added. "It anything were done, buildings at camps elsewhere would probably have be be pulled down and railed to Wanganui in sections."

The chairman of the Housing Subcommittee, Cr. T. N. Dickson, said it would be a costly undertaking to transfer buildings, unless the Government met these charges. He believed the best possible course would be to go ahead with the building of as many new homes as possible. Mr. J. B. Cotterill, M.P., stated in a letter to the council that the Housing Department was making every effort to meet the demand for homes in Wanganui. The city had received fair treatment, but had lagged behind with the erection of private dwellings. Though at present many contracts for private houses had been let. more were being prepared. So far, 338 State houses were occupied in Wanganui, and at March 31, 1946, 84 were under construction. Contracts for a further 80 would be advertised this year.

The Mayor’s motion was carried.