HORSES FOR WORKERS

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14029, 4 April 1919, Page 2

HORSES FOR WORKERS

o THE QUESTION OF DESIGNS. A correspondent addresses the following interesting letter to a Wellington contemporary : "The greatest interest is being aroused all over the country in the Town Planning Conference and Exhibition and reople are expecting great things from it, so that it is very disappointing to find the conditions that have been laid down for the housing competition. In homes, it says : 'ln this competition it is desired to express in detail the competitor's idea of what those homes should be. It is desired to evolve an original conception in which the health and comfort of the worker are secured with the least possible expenditure. Thousands' of de-si-is are to be seen in various books and journals, but these generally are not suitable for our conditions in New Zealand. We want to strike out on new lines. There must bo no waste space in passages or ill-formed rooms. Rooms must be kept to a minimum size and yet made convenient by the possibility of placing all the furniture in proper positions. There must be a covered open-air room as a playing space for the children, or as a lounge. The usual harrow verandah is of no value, and only serves to shut out the. sun from the rooms facing upon it. For convenience and easy working must be included modern methods of lighting, heating, cooking, and careful consideration given to the use of new materials. "The competition will be for Jihree classes, as iollow: (a) Bedroom, living-room, kitchenette, lounge, bathroom, and lavatory. (b) Two bedrooms, living-room, kitchenette, lounge, bathroom, and lavatory. (c) Three bedrooms, living-room, kitchenette, lounge, bathroom, and

lavatory " The first part of the conditions seem verv promising, but our high hopes are dashed to the ground when we come to the last part, of the rooms to be provided., It has been proved time and again both in England and New Zealand that the workers must have more than one living-room; the kitchen is usually considered as one, and a scullery is given where most of the work can he done; hut in these conditions there is only a kitchenette, which presumably has to act as a laundry, too, as there" is no mention of a wash-house, so that it would be of no use as a living-room. The lounge, of course, 'n fine weather would act as another living-room, but does not give what is much needed, a private sitting-room. In England they have appointed a Women's Housing Sub-Committee of the Ministry of Reconstruction's Advisory Council, of which Lady Emmott is chairwoman. In an article the "Queen" mentions the points emphasised by the various associations of working' women in regard as to what they consider necessary in their houses: — (1) They ask for living room, scullery, and parlour, th e first to be used for what its name implies, a room in which to have meals, to be a nursery for the children, and the nlaoe to rest in when the day's work is done; the scullery to be the workshop of the house, where most of the cooking, washing, and other work is done. For this reason there is a growing feeling that the range should be in the scullery heating water, etc., and an open grate in the living room. The third room is needed for other children who have lessons to do, for the man who may he a secretary or a society and requiring a quiet room in which to interview members or do other work, and, equally important, to serve as a meeting place for young peaple and their friends, and thus minimise the dangers of the street being the only available ground. In case of sickness the parlour may usefully be turned into an extra bedroom.

(2) Three bedrooms, two of which should be large enough to take two single beds, if possible standjng out into the room to help in cleaning and for sanitary reasons. \ (3) A bath, whether up oi\ down stairs, in a separate room, and with hot and cold water laid on. \ (A) Reasonable number of oupljoards and fittings and windows, which are arranged so as to clean easily and give plenty of- light throughout the house. The Conference of the Labour.Housing Association, held at Derby on August, 31. adopted the resolution of the Standing Joint Committee of Industrial Women's Organisations setting forth the minimum requirements for houses in the new housing schemes. The resolution recommended cottages rather than flats; each house to contain three bedrooms, a separate bathroom, with a fitted basin and hot and cold water laid on; a living room, a * arlour, a kitchen-scullery, and a larder. Surely the workers in New Zealand are not to have less comfort than those in England? There has been one competition in New Zealand that was a failure, the workers turning down the winning *"-''■ to he hoped that the powers that Iv mav see their way to alter these conditions so that this one, which might be productive of so much good, is not foredoomed. If the conditions were on broad lines, such as a house for two, three, or five persons, there should be a possibility of getting good, original designs. Also, it is to l>c desired that two or three women who can understand plans be among the adjudicators.' ' NO WARNING. Howel complaints such as diarrhoea and dysentery seldom give anv warning and you should always bo prepared with a remedy that will give promnt relief. There is nothing equal *o Chamberlain's Colie and Diarrhoea Remedy for all bowel complaints. The orompt relief it gives is simply wonderful. Chamberlain's Colic and Diarrhoea Remedy can be given with perfect safety to young children. Sold everywhere.