H.- 11b

1911. NEW ZEALAND

WORKERS ' DWELLINGS (REPORT ON), BY THE HON. THE MINISTER OF LABOUR.

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly punuant to Section 18 of die Workers' Dwellings Act, 1910.

In accordance with section IS of the AVorkers' Dwellings Act, 1910, I have the honour to present herewith report, of the Superintendent, Workers' Dwellings, on the work done under the Act foi the year ending 31st March 1910. J. A. Millar, Minister ot Labour.

Sir,— 15th May, 1911. I have the honour to report on the working of the Workers' Dwellings Act during the year ending 31st March, 1911. As intimated in last year's report on workers' dwellings, the Amendment Bill passed last year has effected various improvements on the provisions contained in the old Act. In accordance With the same, the benefits of the Act will now be available to "workers" in all parts of the Dominion, instead of, as formerly, in the principal centres only. By your direction, however, operations will be limited to places where there are at least six applicants, as it is impracticable to erect dwellings in smaller groups. Another important feature of the new Act is that in future the Department will not proceed with the erection of any dwellings until definite applications (including deposits) are made. In this way it will be possible to meet the wishes of each applicant, and at the same time avoid the risk of having empty houses thrown on the hands of the Department. Fifteen different designs, with specifications, have been prepared for the use of applicants (ranging from two to six rooms, with all conveniences, including, where the local conditions allow, electric light or gas, hot and cold water, drainage, bathrooms, &C.), and in selecting his design each applicant will be at liberty to ask for any reasonable alterations to meet his particular requirements. As far as possible applicants will also be given the choice, amongst themselves, of their sections of land, and where more than one applicant applies for one section the matter will be decided by ballot. The land already set apart for workers' dwellings is located as follows : — Auckland. Ellerslie, 43 sections; Otahuhu, 20 sections. Adjoining the Ellerslie and Otahuhu Railwaystations, five and nine miles respectively from the centre of the city. Inquiries are being made for the acquisition of suitable land in or nearer the city than the above for those applicants whose work does not permit of their living any distance from the city. In the meantime applications for dwellings at Ellerslie and Otahuhu will be dealt with. Wellington. Heretaunga, twenty minutes' walk from the Petone Railway-station : 92 sections. Melling Settlement (alongside Melling Railway-siding, Lower Hutt district), 41 sections. Hawtrey Settlement (near the Johnsonville Railway-station), 19 sections. As these settlements are nearly an hour's journey to the city, it is hoped to secure two small blocks of land at opposite ends of the city itself at a reasonable price. (The land at Coromandel Street is already built upon.) Christchurch. Walker Settlement, Addington; and Camelot Settlement, Sydenham: 9 and 11 sections respectivley. These blocks are within easy reach of the city, and are in every way suitable. Applications in this district will therefore be dealt with without delay. Dunedin. Windle Settlement: 33 sections. This land has been partly built upon, and there are sections still available. Inquiries are also being made for another block at the other end of the city. Napier. There is a block of 18 sections of Crown land already available at Awatoto, one and a half miles by road and railway from the centre of the town. Aβ this land is suitable for the purpose, it is proposed to set it apart under the Act. If the proposed tram scheme is carried out, cars will run close to this settlement.