WORKERS’ DWELLINGS. '

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3303, 23 August 1911, Page 3

WORKERS’ DWELLINGS. '

LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND SLUM AREAS. HALF-MILLION LOAN REQUIRED. DSCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT; / l FEB FBESS ASSOCIATION.J _ WELLINGTON, August 22. In the‘ House of Representatives this afternoon, it was decided, on the motion of the Hon. J. A. Millar, to lay the report on the Workers’ Dwellings Act on the table. Mr Millar, in reply to a query, said he was negotiating for 'land for workers’ dwellings in Christchurch, Invercargill, New Plymouth, and Napier. He would not buy land which was too dear for workers to- buy. The erection of buildings would, he stated, be put in hand within the month.

Mr Russell (Avon) objected to the limited areas the Government was allowing for dwellings. He advocated larger sections on the suburban railway lines. Messrs Hanan (Invercargill), Field (Otaki), and Lang (Manakau), supported the policy pursued by the Minister. Mr Laurenson • (Lyttelton) advocated a Liberal area in connection with the dwellings. He instanced the case of a man in Christchurch who cleared £4OO out of tomatoes grown in a glasshouse on one and -a-half acres in one year.

Mr Poole (Auckland West) said there were thousands and"thousands of workers in the cities who to live right- in the cities, and these people were deserving of consideration. Mr J. P. Luke (Wellington Suburbs) contended that the Minister should extend the operations of the Act to embrace the individual sections. Workers ought not to be put on, or in, a particular settlement and marked off as a special, class of people. He hoped the Minister would * resist the temptation to allow himself to be exploited by syndicates desiring to unload a lot of land on the Government.

Mr Fisher (Wellington Central) said he thought Parliament would have to undertake the duties which municipalities ought to carry out, but so far . had shirked, namely, the destruction of slum areas in cities.

The Hon. J. A. Millar, in reply, said the House would be given an opportunity, during the session, to discuss the whole matter of workers’ dwellings. It was impossible to do anything of a. comprehensive character without the aid of a large loan. Half a million of money was necessary to carry out the scheme properly. The question of slum areas required drastic legislation to compel local authorities to abolish them. Local authorities commenced slums by giving permits for building, and should be made to bear the brunt in the elimination thereof. The motion was earned.

THE WORKERS’DWELLINGS BILL

SOME INTERESTING PROVISIONS.

The report on the Workers’ Dwellings’ Bill was presented to Parliament to-day. By the dilution of the Minister the operations under the Act are to he limited to places where there are at least six applicants, as it is impractible to erect dwellings in smaller groups. Negotiations are proceeding for the purchase or setting apart of suitable [and in Wanganui, Timaru, Invercargill and various other towns, _ but some delay in dealing with applictions pending completion of negotiations for land is anticipated. Arrangements have been made with the Government Life Insurance Department whereby under a special scale any purchaser may insure his life for as nearly as practicable the amount that may be owing on his dwelling at the time of his death should such occur. Thus, by the payment of 2s 9d per week a purchaser of a- dwelling costing £560, if he is thirty years of age, would insure the payment of the balance owing on his dwelling at any time that his death might occur. The amount of the insurance effected is actually greater than the amount owing from, time to time, it being the nearest practical sum, and in case of death the balance of the insurance money after paying the residue on the building is paid to the credit of the insured’s estate. The total number of houses erected so far is only 526. y