TEACHERS' HOUSING PROBLEM

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 196, 28 October 1955, Page 8

TEACHERS' HOUSING PROBLEM

Following 011 the recent discussior between the Borough Council and tlic Taupo District High School Cominittee 011 the problem of housing for teachers in Taupo, the Counci1] have received a copy of a circular letter with regard to the matter sent to mayors and eounty chairmen by the Hon. W. Sulllvan, Minister oi Housing. Dated March 7, 1955, the letter refers to the shortage of rental houses in smaller country towns for school teachers, Government employees, ernployees of banks and so on, and states that such people do not stay lc.ng enough in small towns to be able to settle into the community and buy their own homes. Action by County Councils The letter then refers to one county council that had secured a loan to finance the building of six two-person bats, whlch would be partly furnislied and would be let to school teachers, and states that this county council was confldent that it could build the fiats and let them at rentals which would cover all costs. One other county is said to have eonvened a meeting of school committee representatives to go into the need, and the type of building that would best rneet the need, while another county had been provided by its architect with plans for two oneperson units, of 730 square feet for the two units, which were entirely self-confained and provided for bedsitting rooms. The circular states that councils have the power to raise funds for these purposes, and that various sources of loan finance are available and that some assistance on the planning side would shortly be available tli rough the Local Body Plan Service which the Minister was having prepared.

The Minister states that in his concern tb see all sections of the community properly housed, he would ask councils to examine the local situation and see whether there were any rooin for some positive action on their part, and that if councils were able to do so he would be happy to hear of it. and to give any further assistance within his power. The circular letter does not, however, give any detailed informa'tion as to the powers of councils to raise loans for the purpose referred to. Municipal Assoeiation's A7iew The meeting of the Executive of the Municipal Association of New Zealand held in Wellington, on September 7, had before it a letter from the Te Kuiti Borough Council, dated September 1, forwarding a letter received from the South Auckland Education Board, similar to the letter received from the Board by the Taupo School Committee recently. The Education Board's letter referred to the letter sent by the Minister to councils as detailed above. The Te Kuiti Borough Council was of the opinion that the housing of school teachers was a matter for the Education 1 )epartment. The Municipal Association Executive passed a resolution to the effect that the Association supported the point of view of the Te Kuiti Council and considered that the work was for the Department itself. Waitomo Opinion On September 9, when the Waitomo County Council received a letter from the Piopio District High School Committee, urging that the Council undertake building houses in rural areas for teachers who drove school buses, under the Government scheme, Ihe Council decided to discuss the issne in correspondence with the South Auckland Education Board. The resolution pointed out that the Council could not consider any proposition unless it was fully indemnitied by the Education Department against any loss. Councillors expressed the view that the responsibility iav