Houses for Manawatu County Council Employees

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 61, 15 March 1944, Page 4

Houses for Manawatu County Council Employees

Acknowledging the problem of providing housing for its employees the Manawatu County Council yesterday resolved upon preliminary action towards borrowing £IO,OOO to provide at least eight additional houses immediately. This action was based on a comprehensive report on the position presented by the county engineer (Mr. H. V. Bond), who stated that the council normally employed a staff of 05 for which it had only 13 houses. Should an employee leave the service of the council it was impossible to replace him owing to tlie lack of accommodation. It was quite evident, ho said, that the council would have to provide additional housing for its present and future employees. The minimum number of extra houses immediately required was eight, but this would have to be extended if the council’s rehabilitation scheme were embarked upon. At present there were no bouses for county workmen and Mr. Bond was unable to engage skilled labour urgently required because of the lack uf accommodation. tylr. Bond went on to outline a scheme whereby an enlarged county staff could undertake the erection of the muchneeded houses and claimed that this would make for economies in providing houses for a mixed family with reasonable conveniences and comfort. After elaborating his schem.e Mr. Bond said: “For the effort of proper organisation and a comparatively small outlay I am of the opinion that the council could reduce its building costs and it would have the tools to pick up at any time it wished to embark on further building.” Councillors were shown designs fur the style of houses he proposed and said that the contract price on to-day’s values would be between £I2OO and £I3OO, whereas under his scheme wherein the # ; council made provision for erecting houses on its own account, Mr. Bond said that ( the cost would be between £IOOO and £llOO. The chairman (Cr. W. E. Barber) complimented j&lr. Bond on bis report and agreed that the council should act with- ( out delay. A committee was asked to go into the position and report, meanwhile the council resolved to proceed with public notification of its intention to borrow £IO,OOO for houses for its employees.