HOUSES FOR GASWORKS EMPLOYEES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 260, 30 July 1919, Page 8

HOUSES FOR GASWORKS EMPLOYEES

THE MIRAMAR SCHEME. In connection with the Wellington Gas Company's proposed housing scheme at lliramar, the following two circulars have teen issued to the employees of the company by Mr. Archibald Dougall, engineer:— "The directors of the Wellington Gas Company, Limited, recently purchased at Miramar twelve and a half acres of land suitable for building houses upon, and, before any steps are taken in connection with the development of the scheme, it is the desire of the board to consult its employees in the matter. I therefore am instructed to form a committee from the employees with whom the board may consult, and in order to do this it will be necessary for each department to elect a representative fo the committee. The representatives required are:—Miramar— From the retort house, one representative; from the workshops, one; from the yard, one. Town—From the mechanics and meter shops (Cambridge Terrace), one representative; from tho gas fitters and service layer.*, one; from the clerical staff, one; and one foreman,representative, to be elected by the other foremen. I shall be srlacl to receive the names of the representatives to form the committee ov or befone Saturday, July 12. "I am directed by the chairman to alter the date on which the names of the employees to form a committee were to be sent in from July 12 to Saturday, July 19; and, further, I am instructed to supply, for tho benefit of the employees, the following information in regard to the proposed housing scheme. It is proposed to erect permanent buildings in brick and concrete at as low a cos', as possible, but with good workmanship,' so that the rents, to be based on costs, also may be as low as possible. The company does not desire to make ;>ny profit on the letting of the houses. The committee is r'eouired to assist in the general planning of the schenio, so that houses suitable for the wants of the employees will be erected. Among other objects is the desirableness of building semi-detached 'houses or groups of houses in a block. The committee is to ascertain whether a laundry of the kind usually erected with ii group of houses would meet with approval, .also the number of employees desirous of becoming tenants; and when the scheme is floated the committee, will be reanired to assist in the supervision and management of the settlement. A', a further advanced stage it may be of assistance for some of the wives of nie employees to be added to the committee to give advice on the internal arrangement of the houses. It.is the intention of the directors to acquire a recreation ground in the neighbourhood of the settlement. • Generally, the object of the directors is to provide for the employees of the company suitable houses in pleasant surroundings in the vicinity of tho works, and at a reasonable rent. At the same time the scheme is open to every employee of the company."