RAILWAY HOUSES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 6 January 1928, Page 3

RAILWAY HOUSES.

DWELLINGS COMPLETED. The erection of fifteen railway workers’ homes under the Railways Department’s housing scheme lias been completed at the new settlement off Lincoln Road. Seven of the houses have been occupied for some weeks, four more were occupied yesterday, and the remaining four will be taken over within a few days. The houses are of the “factory cut” type, being produced in the Department’s factory at Frankton. They are constructed on four different designs, lending a variety to the general appearance of the settlement. The houses run along one side of a crescent. (Bach section is slightly more than oneeighth of an acre in area, and the houses contain live rooms and are equipped with electric light, drainage, and hot and cold water services. Gas is also laid on for those requiring it. The houses are all painted cream with red roofs, and are nicely finished off inside with high grade interior decorations. Seven of the houses were erected by the Department and the other eight by .Messrs W. H. Christiansen arid W. Large. It is estimated that in the erection of the 'homes the Department has spent a sum of £IO,IOO, while there remains sufficient land on the other side of the road, abutting on the mill property of Messrs C. E. Daniell, Ltd., on which to erect another iiftcen homes. There are_ at present thirty married men employed on the Masterton railway staff, and fifteen of these will make their homes in the new settlement. The remaining' fifteen havo either homes of their own or are conveniently situated as far as housing conditions are concerned. The station-, master (Mr D. Mahony) stated yesterday that there had been no demand for any more than the fifteen homes, and he did not anticipate that any' extension of the settlement would be necessary for a few years.

The employee pay one day’s wages for one week’s rent, with a minimum of Ms Sd. Tho-houses are only rented, and no provision has been made for the occupants to bceomo the owners.