LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Chronicle (Levin), 26 June 1946, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

: ' " - ' "PINEX."

HOESII^G IN JLEVIN Sir Laudable •- as the" efforts of the Mayor (Mr. H„ B. B,urd.ekin) may be in o,b,taining the diversion of' essential materials to -Levin^to speed up the completiqn .of . the dong-overdue State houses in Chambeiiain Street, and .star.t- the construetion of others, may I ask through your columns where the private' man comes into his seheme 'of thirigs, or doesn't he? . The State houses in Chamberlain Street should have been completed before " last Christmas, when materials- were relatively easy to obtain. -Even if they had .beenflt would then have taken more than six months to build them. Complete these houses now they are so far on, but before any more are started I say let some of the dozens of youhg people, who have been waiting mohths and months to get a start wi-th their own homes, have a share in these essential materials, which have become so scarce. May- 1' ask also, Sir, by w-hat right the borough engineer , should have priority over any of the many others waiting their turrr. He has only been in Levin a short time, not more than three months, ahd is a long way down the list if everybody receives justice. Yours etc., "DISGRU-NTLED," Levin, June 25. • - [The building of the borough engineer's house has b.een in hand for some months, and has been subject to consider able delay, firstly, in •obtaining the necessary loan authority and, secondly, on aceount of material shortages. It is now six months since- the contract was let. — Editor.] . "

Sir,— I was little short of amazed to read, in your paper last evening that "arrangements had been made ' for a truck-load of cement to be j sent to Levin, where it would be I used speciflcally for the foundation j of the borough engineer's new residence, the foundation of the new ladies'' convenience, and the foundations of eight State houses to be bufl-t in Lincoln Place." . _ To the first I ask why should the Borough Council go ahead building in brick nothing short of a luxu-ry mansion, costing considerably in I excess of £2000, when there are : returned' servicemen and others in , Levin taking their place in mile- ; long queues, waiting for their own j foundations to be laid._ Let -the borough engineer take his place in the line and endeavour fo compete on the open market. But tha.t is not done, Sir. Houses are only for tflose in high places. •As to the second,. is it necessary I for the council to .proceed with new ladies' convenlences . when private individuals require houses? To the further ei,ght State houses, I say let them complete tfle j' eight which have been building for ! almost twelve months in Chamberlain Street. Excuses have con1 tfliually been made through your cbMmns as to their non-completion, •but residents are' not quite as dumb as the council-'s spokesmah would : have them believe. ; In conclusion, Sir, I realise this fle'tter will not make the council j change its mind, but it will at least ! draw attention to the necessity for a cleaning up in the council's ; ranks. There is need for it — just as much as there is for a cleaning up in the present Legislature — that same Legislature which, for fear of victimisation, precludes me from, j signing my name. Yours etc., | "INDIGNANT HOMESEEKER." Levin; June 26.

Sir, — I was astounded to read in last evening's "Chronicle" that a ! truck-load of cement was coming to Levin to be used for the fol-lowing pu£poses : The foundations o-f theengineer's new residence, ladies' convenience, eight State houses and lastly, to relieve the situation at the ! Kereru Settlement, Koputaroa. !Now, Sir, what I want to protest- . against is the way in which this cement is going to be used. Who decided that the above-mentioned buildings had priority in Levin? Was it Mr. Burdekin or the Building Controller in Wellington? With materials in short supply, and likely to be so for some time to come, L think that each case should be considered on its merits. and the most urgent. given priority. We know it is necessary for the council to provide a house for its engineer, but if more urgent cases are awaiting, they should be proeeeded with first. A band conductor is to be appointed in Levin, so I understand, and after reading last night's "Chronicle" I should not be surprised at some futu-re date to read that the next truck-load of cement is to he used speciflcally for -the foundations of the band conduc1 tor's house, etc. . What those - who are waiting to bufld homes will say to al-1 this wfll b.e. shown at the forthcoming mnnir'irinl plpp.tirvns. Yotirs etc..

Levin, June 2*6.