Houses For Farm Hands On Group Scheme Is Waverley Suggestion

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 July 1948, Page 4

Houses For Farm Hands On Group Scheme Is Waverley Suggestion

Details of the scheme operating in the Sandon district under which a group of farmers has secured three State houses for the housing of farm workers on a weekly l:Zuse-free basis are to be sought by the Wanganui Provincial Executive of Federated Farpjers .with a view to having the scheme adopted throughout the district. The matter was raised by remits from the Waverley branch which were adopted. They were: — “That this branch expresses its approval of a rural housing scheme. “That group-controi and administration be recommended, that is to say, control by small groups of farmers in a given area, who will guarantee rent and continuity of work to the tenant and generally control the scheme. This is preferred to control by either Federated Farmers or county councils. “This executive considers that at least six houses could well be erected within a radius of 10 miles of Waverley but that until such time as a concrete scheme is agreed upon the matter cannot well be finalised with individuals or groups of farmers concerned.” Explaining the Waverley branch’s scheme, Mr. W. Matthews said that the purpose of the group of farmers having control of the houses was so that if the men were unsuitable workers they could be dispensed with. The number of houses suggested was tentative. More could be used but the branch thought it would be better to be on the conservative side. He knew that group schemes were under way in the Dominion but the branch l.'.d not been able to secure any details of them. Mr. C. D. Corliss said that a group scheme was being run in the Sanson area. Mr. Matthews said that the branch had considered that the scheme could also be applied to providing houses lor rabbiters. One or two houses for that purpose could be used in the Waverley district. Seconding the remit pro forma. Mill. R. Morgan said thpt he understood the Sanson scheme had three houses in the township. Applications for the positions had been receiv»i from all over the Dominion, although the houses were not yet finished. The scheme was being run by the local secretary of Federated Farmers. The suggestion was made by Mr. E. B. Chisholm that the matter should be held over until full enquiries had been made regarding the scheme in operation in Sanson. The Waimarino district wanted six houses, said Mr. T. H. Brown. At present the branch had no information regarding the group scheme and would welcome information from Sanson. The first thing, said Mr. A. R. Laird, was for four or live farmers to form a group and secure a piece of land to be made available for a State house. The group rented the house from the Government and paid the worker a weekly wage with a rent-free house. If the employee was not satisfactory lie could be dismissed and as he was in a rent-free house he did not come under the provisions of the Fair Rents Act. At Sanson, said Mr. Laird, the group had a carpenter who was also a plumber, a farmhand, and a man who was capable ol taking charge of a farm. There was sufficient work to keep these three men coing “Broadly sneaking, the banson scheme is the right proposition,” commented the ehairman (Mr. H. J. Donnelly). Unfortunately the branches had not co-operated in making applications. All forms of farming wpuld be embraced under the scheme. *