A GOVERNMENT HOUSING SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 301, 14 September 1920, Page 4

A GOVERNMENT HOUSING SCHEME

LAY-OUT STRONGLY CRITICISED. Br Telezranh—Press Association, "Christchurch, September 13. Much unfavourable comment was made at a meeting: .of the Waimairi County Couneil regarding the lay-out of the Lab-, our Department's housing scheme in Northcote Road. Papanui. The Department wrofo enclosing a plan of subdivision, and stating that the entrance from Northcote Eoad would be fifi feet wide and the widtlii of tho other roads 40 feet 6 inches. Inference was mado to section 2 of the Land Laws Amendment Act, 1915, giving permission for roads of less than CO feet being constructed. The plans showed a lay-out of horseshoe 6hape, no apparent provision being made for extension of tho roads, except in respect of the wing roads on the sides. It provided for about eight'houses being erected 011 an area of 10 or 15 acres.

The chairman (Mr. W. G. Spencer) said lie supposed that the Government would do as they liked in the matter,'but he 'did not think that the Government was "playing the gamo." Instead of a "garden city," they were going to put up a slum. He thought that the council should strongly protest against the lay-out and refuse to> sanction it. It was decided that the' Attention of Messrs. Jones, Witty and Sullivan, M.P.'s, the governing bodv of St. Bede's College, and the Progress League be callcd to tlm matter, and that they lie asked to oppose the lay-out, also, that the members of Parliament and other bodies mentioned, with the public of Papanui, meet 011 tho site on Saturday to further the protest.