NOTICE TO QUIT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 125, 24 February 1928, Page 11

NOTICE TO QUIT

TENANTS OF NEW MILK DEPOT BLOCK SMALL RENT-PAYERS’ PROBLEM DEPUTATION WAITS ON COMMITTEE By acquiring an acre and a quarter of congested land in and off Upper Tory Street, for the purpose of a new milk depot, the City Council has had to give notice to quit to the tenants, who number (with children) about 110. These are residents of Alma /Lane, Charlton Avenue, and Francis Place, whose repreeentatives waited on the Milk Committee yesterday afternoon to place their position before the Council. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., said that proclamation had been placed on the houses in the area specified, which affected about 140 men, women, and children. The legal aspect was of the least importance, as in that respect the tenants were amply protected. As it had to be proved whether the proclamation superseded legislation, affecting housing, perhaps it would be judges or lawyers who would have to decide on what the rights of tenants were, and whether they should insist on them. He asked that the notices of ejectment be not enforced. Surely something could be done for these people by co-operation between the Milk Committee, the City Council, the Labour Department, and the Hutt Housing Committee. He admitted the importance of the milk scheme, but here were these people, who could not get houses under £2 a week, and that they simply could not pay. The chairman (Councillor W. H. Bennett) said that most of the houses were condemned years ago. It was well-known eighteen months ago that the Council was going to build a new depot on the site, and twelve months ago this month a proclamation was placed over the properties. "You must please understand,’’ he continued, "that this Milk Committee has a great load to carry concerning the health of the people of Wellington." At the Dixon Street factory they were on "thin ice," and the management was being carried on from day to day in fear and trembling of a breakdown, so that it was imperative that the new depot should be erected at the earliest possible moment. They had purposely selected the area, the clean-up of which would benefit the, city to the greatest extent. This was a block they had been urged to remodel, being one that should give the least trouble or inconvenience. Several houses had been bought and demolished already, and the proclamation would be enforced so that they could get on with the new depot as soon as posBible. Mr. Fraser: Where are they to go? Councillor Bennett: That is not the tmsiuess of the committee! Mr. Fraser: Well, don’t talk in that ■train 1 Councillor Bennett: The scheme is for the benefit of the whole r.f the city, and cannot be deferred for a small number. It seems to me that the people concerned have not spent much time seeking other places. Anyhow, we are going on, and will take our chance. The Milk Committee must get possession at once—not of the area for stables, which is not so important at present, but it is imperative to get possession of the rest at once. We don’t need to find houses for these people. It is an individual matter; it seems to me they should go out and find them for themselves! If we break down now the whole of the milk supply of the city will be jeopardised. "Personally,” said Mr. Fraser, "I feel very much disappointed. The milk supply of Wellington is, of course, very important, but so are these families. I think you uro very short-sighted, and T don’t litre the tons of your remarks! It is almost inhuman!” Councillor Benuett: What would you do? Mr. Fraser: I hope you will report the situation to the council and suggest some form of co-operation to get over the difficulty. Councillor Huggins: I wish to dissociate myself with the attitude of the chairman. I think we should meet them, and endeavour to do all we can to house them. (Applause.) As the deputation was leaving, some of its members tarried a moment or two to tell the chairman exactly what they thought - of him.