GLORIFIED PIGSTIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 270, 12 February 1941, Page 2

GLORIFIED PIGSTIES

FARM WORKERS' COTTAGES

FARMER'S UNION CRB'ICISM

The cottages being erected in the rural areas Tor farm labourers and their families came in for severe criticism at the monthly meeting of the Cambridge branch of the New Zealand Farmer's Union. The chairman, Mr W. N. Perry, referred to them as "glorified pigsties." It Avas not equitable that houses costing up lo £lf)00 wore being erected by the State for workers in tlx: towns, whereas such poor shacks were provided for men on farms slated a member. When the scheme was being discussed originally, the Union had never suggested that the rent should be kept down to 5s a Aveek. "I would not blame anyone for refusing to liA'e in them—l Avould not haA'c one on my farm," commented another member. It Avas stated that each cottage had a six-foot slud and the A'entilation Avas very poor. The front door Avas the only entrance and the Avindows AA'ere so small that a baby could not get through them. The rooms consisted of a kitchcn, with bedrooms at each end. There Avere no doors to the bedrooms. No arrangements Avere made for electricity. and there Avas not even hot or cold Avater. The fireplace Avas so situated that should the building catch alight it Avoukl be difficult for the

occupants to make an exit. "Good results fr#m labour could not be expected if the liA T ing conditions Avere unsatisfactory," said Mr Perry, who explained that the matter Avas being taken up by the Waikato Sub-Provincial Executive.