Building Of Houses At A Standstill

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 July 1950, Page 3

Building Of Houses At A Standstill

The building of State houses at Hunterville was announced through the press as long ago as November of last year and the public received the news with much satisfaction, and now that nine months have passed since . the announcement was first made, the ' public might well have expected to see at least three houses completed. i Unfortunately nothing has been done and the town is no further ahead with its housing problem. A i number of families are still waiting for the fulfilment of the long-expect-ed promise. I It is true, of course, that a change I of Government has taken place, but Mr. Holland has assured the country , that the commitments of the previous ' Government would be carried out. But the Taihape Chamber of Com’s merce has received word from the I Minister of Housing (Mr. Marshall) ! stating that it was not proposed to I build State rental houses in Taihape lat present. This has caused considerI able anxiety to those who have been I hoping to secure a State house in ■ Hunterville. I Added to Taihape’s disappointment are the fruitless protests by the Oha- • kune Borough Council and the Oha- ' kune Chamber of Commerce against the decision of the Housing Construci tion Division of the Ministry of Works i not to build any more State houses at I Ohakune. | It is the policy of the National i Government to encourage the private ownership of houses and that would ! be all to the good, but is there any I guarantee that this policy will get the J urgently needed houses erected? I It. seems that the building of homes for the people will have to be given I full Government support, and it may even be left to the Hunterville Chamher of Commerce to take the matter j up and find out what are the Govefni ment’s intentions with regard to the j building of State houses at. Hunter--1 ville. At present there are only eight units and more are needed, and If the i Housing Construction Division of the Ministry of Works cannot get going it is time the whole scheme was handed over to someone who can. ' TOWN HALL HEATING TESTS SUCCESSFUL. I The heating of the Hunterville | Town Hall has proved a great success. ; Tests were carried out on Friday ' and Saturday nights. On Friday night the machinery was under observation and on Saturday night all parts of the auditorium were carefully tried and proved to be comfortably warmed throughout. The Town Board is to be congratulated on its enterprise in supplying a long felt want. The chairman, Mr. R. A. Gordon, ■ said that he was very pleased with ■ the results. i Mrs. J. B. McKnight, who uses the Town Hall as St. James Theatre for the showing of pictures, said that after the test on Saturday night she ; was very satisfied with the central heating system as it will be a great comfort for patrons, and the public will realise that it has been a long felt need.