MUNICIPAL HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2775, 19 May 1916, Page 6

MUNICIPAL HOUSES

MAYOR'S SUGGESTION DWELLINGS FOR CORPORATION EMPLOYEES. The lack of nccomm&lation in Wellington was mentioned by the Mayor (.Mr. J. P. Luko) at last evening's meeting of tho Wellington City Council. Building was going ahead, but lio would not say that the 'travelling public were being catered for. The lack of accommodation was not due to the proximity of the military ct.mps, but to the grow® of the city. He had suggested 'to the Minister of Defence that when soldiers came to town from Trentham or Featherston they should lie accommodated at Mount Cook Barracks, where good beds awl good food would be obtainable. That would relieve tho accommodation in the City, and room would 1)0 left for tho people who camo to town to seo the soldiers. Mr. Luke further said that it was time the council considered a municipal policy of housing, 'l'he corporation had 500 or GOO employees, and could well consider the question of building houses for .them at a reasonable rental. (Hear, hear.) It would case the burden, and be of good service otherwise. Councillor J. E. Fitzgerald: I think the Mayor should be complimented for his reference to building for employees. It was absolutely necessfiry to do something in tlia't direction, and ho hoped the' Mayor would bring down a definite proposal without delay. Councillor G. Frost TemaTked that before launching out info such a scheme the Government should 1« approached and asked to reduce the heavy cost of materis!, which was making building an almost prohibitive enterprise.