HOMES FOR HARBOUR WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 131, 27 February 1919, Page 5

HOMES FOR HARBOUR WORKERS

BOARD'S SCHEME DELAYED. At last night's meeting of the Harbour Board, Mr. J. G. Cobbe moved: "That the members of the Wellington Harbour Board place on record tlieir extreme regret that the Government has not yet given the board authority to provide its workers with homes, and pledge themselves to continue their efforts to arouse the Government to a' sensp of tho pressing need that exists for better conditions for the board's workers." Mr. Cohhb said that the board had a, perfectly sound scheme, aiid it did not want any Government money. The improvement of the hou3incr conditions Of the workers had been, shown to bo a matter of extreme importance, and he could not understand why the Government was blocking the board's effort to do part of a pressing riational work. Mr. M. Cphon seconded the motion. He could • not see any ■ reason why. the Government should withhold its permission. Mr. R.. A. Wright said he did not understand the delay. The Government could easily have got Parliamentary authority last session. The Ministers were taking up. a "dog-in-the-manger" attitude. They could not do the work theinsslves, and would not let the board do it. He suggested the board should nromoto a local Bill for next session of Par- ■ liament. ' ■ The chairman of the board (Mr. C. E. •Daniell) said that critics of the Government seemed to forget that the nation had been At war, and the Government had been handling an enormous task. The motion was carried unanimously, after further discussion.