FARM WORKERS' COTTAGES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 8

FARM WORKERS' COTTAGES.

A SCHEME OUTLINED.(By Tclegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, July 28. Tlie following is the report of Sir. John Studliolnie, chairman' of the committee regarding the farm workers' cottage scheme set up by tho recent Agricultural mid L'astural Associations' Conference, "to draft a workable scheme for the promotion of the building of cottages for married .farm workers in rural districts, and to submit liic sninc (n tftc Government." The coniinillea reported that it had adopted the following scheme:— That the Government should be asked to endeavour to remedy the evil complained of by cither themselves adopting or by promoting such legislation as will empower county councils to adopt one or both of the following courses:— (a) By acquiring by voluntary arrangements from private owners small blocks of land iu suitable localities, and by cutting them up into from three to" ten acre areas, according to tho quality of tho land, and by letting or soiling the same to farm labourers, and by building when required, colhiges on such areas up to a value of, say, J3CO. (b) By encouraging farmers and others to themselves erect farm labourers' cottages by advancing them loans for tho purpose at such a rate of interest as will provide 4J per cent, interest on the loans, insurance premium, and sufficient sinking fund to pay oft' tlie principal in twenty years. With regard to (a), the following conditions should be provided for:— (1) That tho sections or cottages should be sold to applicants cither for cash or on the deferred-payment systsm. or be let on long lease, with the option of acquiring the freehold. (2) That the occupier of any such cottage- be debarred from selling his goodwill or interest in tho cottage or land he occupies, except to the Government or the County Council, as tho case may be, unless and until he has completed the purchase of the said cottage and land, but the Government or (he County Council should allow the occupier on the execution of tho transfer to. them the full value of all improvements effected by him, and also nil accrued sinking funds he may have paid towards tho purchase- of tho land, and a portVm of what sinking fund he has paid towards the purchase of tho cottage. (3) That the cottages be insured in the Government Insurance Office, and be periodically painted and kept in repair by the occupier. With regard to (b) course, the following condition should be provided for-.—That the rental charged to the occupier of any such cottage by the farmer shall not exceed U per cent, on the cost of the cottage, plus 0 per cent, on tho value of any land in excess of half an acre in extent surrounding or adjoining the cottage which may be allowed to. such occupier by the farmer, no rental to be charged for tho first half acre of land. That.- should the Government elect (o authorise county councils to carry out the above proposals, then they shoiilr! be empowered to secure tho repayment of anv advances they may make to "farmers who undertake to build cottages by the levying of a special rate over such area of land belonging to the said farmer, as tho County Council may, in each case, think advisable. Ifr. Studholme also interviewed tho Minister in regard to the proposals, and Mr. Mnssey promised to consider tho scheme. •