State Houses First Or War Memorial Sports Area?

Chronicle (Levin), 18 June 1949, Page 2

State Houses First Or War Memorial Sports Area?

,".The latest . return _ shows 49 ap- Jj piications for State houses, with 1 I anly' 10'iof them inpltidqd ih|.the ■ « urgent classifiicatibn."^ s"*This;.pas- } sage in. a lebver read ' at the ' Otaki • Bofough Gbunci.'s meeting: an Wedriesday from the Dii'ector .of Ho'using Construction caused surpr'is'e, and councillors were *very surprised and questioned the accuracy of the flgures quoted. j: • . The letter said that contracts had been iet for 28 houses, 18 above the town's urgent requirements. Otaki was thus in a more fortunate position 'ihan many other places. No land had yet been purchased for Dhe remainder of the units required, but a land purchase programme had been arranged for the procurement of further sections. Conditions would again be reviewed when further sections were available. "We wou'd like ••o know who is ioing the classifying," said Cr. E. J. Cook, adding that he knew of some very urgent applications that had been taken down to th--director. The sneaker furnished evidence of cases of three and f our - ■ femilies living- in the one house. . 4 O' her spe'akei's recalled that on the ">ccasion of the visit of a deputation go the Minister flgures quoted on ; that occasion .w.ere, tproved wrong. The gen'erai 'impression was that 30 urgent cases would be nearer the mark, and ihe town clerk, Mr. Alex. Wi'son, was asked to convey this view to the director.

A communication from the State i suggestion from the council that a suggestion fro mthe council that a local committee assist with thej aPocation of the units, was to the effect that "allocation cimmittess are a Government matter" and the '*epresentations had , been forwarded to the Minister in Charge. Councillors contended that the ear'ier letter regarding classifications was proof that a local committee would be in the best interests of those wanting State homes. The discussion was carried a step fqrther when a letter from an owher of-.a block of' sites, dn Kirk and Lemon Street^' adyisq^ Ithat his propertyn^vas-thot' fqfesa,l.el:-kt, prpsent. "When it is ndif'iii^^market, it will be avaiist^lf' f State h©dsin|n.-purpbs'es iahd th^5' jfiouhcP ^ will g'iVeh ' the Tat^t ^clisqice to .purchase it then," the letter added. rThe writer concluded by suggesting ,'that the council extend t-he rpr,esent area in the vicinity of the courthouse. In the finance committee's report to-the council was the following Tesolution, moved by the Mayor, Mr. C. F. Atmore, and seconded by Cr. N. D. Anderson: "That in view of the approach of the State Housing Department. for further land in Otaki for State houses, the department be invited to meet the couhci1 with a view to deciding the State hohsing: policy in Otaki, and -that r . the :Wa'r-:Idemorial scheme be he"'d.;S over until the matter has been de'cided." Speaking to the resolution, the Mayor said that an earlier meeting had decided to ask the housing authorities if they had sufflcient land, and evidence was forthcoming that a proposed site was not available. The finance committee considered it would be fo'lv to "shut" our eyes" to Jhe possibfities of the future develonment of the area near the courthouse. Pcssibly there was sufflcient ground there for t>" sports area and for housing. His ' committee felt, however, that the present and the future intentions of the Depar' ment of Housing Construction should he sought insofar as Otaki was concerned. Crs. Anderson and -Cook supported the views put forward by Mr. Atmore. "Don't let us stop the housing of people," said the former. Cr. Cook agreed, adding, "We must house our people firstf. Houses aremore important than play aareas." Cr. H. W. Hakaraia rose to a point of order. He contended that the council could not discuss the matter in view of previous resolutio'ns. before it concerning the" sports area and War Memorial scheme. The Mayor conceeded this noint of order, after "which Cr. Anderson gave notice of his intention to move that I'ihe ' previous r&solutions be rescinded in order that the finance committee's recommend.ation could be discussed at the next meeting of the council.