COUNTRY WORKERS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14839, 3 December 1913, Page 7

COUNTRY WORKERS.

COUNTY COUNCILS , POWERS,

(spkoial to "Tins pmmb.'M WELLINGTON. December 2. The lot of country workers, so far as the difficulty that exists of obtaining homes nfiar. their; work, should be considerably improved when an important clause contained in the Counties Amendment Bill comes into force. This x>lll was dealt with in Committee this evening, and this clause (inserted by the Statutes Revision Committee) was very favourably commented on by speakers from all sides of the House.

It is provided in the first place! that any County Council may erect or purchase ■workers , dwellings suitable for occupation by workers, xn purchasing land for this purpose, the size of the sections are limited (according to an amendment made this evening) to five acres for first-dase land to ten acres for second-class land, and to 20 acres for third-class land. The Council is to make by-laws in reference to the" letting of workers' dwellings, and is also to manage and control every worker's dwelling that it puts up. In acquiring land for this special purpose, the Council is empowered to deem the work a "public work" within the meaning of the Public Works Act. 1908.

An extensive clause supplementary to the foregoing outli"*>s the modes by which the County Council mny_ deal with workers' dwellings. It may in the first place grant a twenty-one years' lease, and may itself erect the dwelling or lead money for that purpose. It may lend monev-to purchase the section and erect the dwelling, and finally it may sell to a worker his home. The interest" payable is fixed at five per cent.

In suggesting the amendment about limiting the size of the sections according to the class of land, the Prime Minister mentioned that at present the Government was cutting up some land in South Canterbury which aimed at providing homes on five acres of land. Tbis particular land was very good, and had cost nearly £50 per aero.