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WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

GOVERNMENT COTTAGES AT FITZKOI. riie title of c '\\ oilers' Dwellings/'' as applied to the cottages tlmt have been erected by tiie Government of the Dominion in various places in New Zealand, under the provisions of the Workers' Dwellings Aet, 1910, has come to be somewhat of a mis-ilomen. It may be that the designation was suited to the class of building' that was erected when the administration of the Act was in its infancy, but the development of the building trade generally, and what is really a fashion in building, as in other matters, have created a demand for a superior class of dwelling to. that at first contemplated by the Government, The Labor Department, 'through whom the Act is administered, mis shown its good sense in its endeavor to adapt itself to the changed requirements, with the result that a reasonable amount of | latitude is now allowed the successful applicant for a "workers' dwelling," in j the matter of selecting the design of j the building. The houses, therefore that are being erected to-day are much more attracti've-looking places, and infinitely more convenient, than the places which were at first built. It should, perhaps, be stated, for the benefit of those who may not he familiar with the scheme, that the Government is prepared to receive applications at any time from those who desire to take advantage of the provisions of the Act to secure a home for themselves on very favorable'terms. In the firct place the houses have to be erected on land purchased, or set dpart, for that particu> lar purpose by the Government, and the Workers' Dwellings Board does not, except in special eases, consider Most. than six' applications at rhe same time in respect to one locality, though latterly, this condition lias not been strictly enforced. The number of dwellings being erected at Fitzroy is only four, while it is understood that applications have been approved for the erection of two houses at Patea. When application is made a deposit of £1 is required, which is increased to £lO when the application is approved. The purchaser, for such he is, thereafter pays for his home by easy weekly instalments of principal and interest. combined. The payments are arranged over a period of years, <it the end of which the dwelling' becomes the property of the purchaser, and the only fee payable is for the transfer of the dwelling from the Board to the purchaser at the expiration of the currency of the agreement. If at any time a purchaser desires to pay off more than tlio regular amount arranged he can do so in 3uina of £5 or any multiple thereof, and thereby shorten the period over -which his payments extend. Dwellings may lis erected in wood, concrete qi- brick, as arranged between the Board and the applicant, but the total capital value of the property must not exceed £750. Residence in the. dwelling is compulsory on the purchaser but the Board may permit absence for 12 months at a time. No disposition of the property can be made without the consent of the Board, and when disposition is consented to the Board may pay the original purchaser the, value of the permanent improve* ments. .Provision, is also made with the Government Life Insurance Department wherehv a purchaser may effect an insurance on his life for the period of his agreement, for. as nearly as practicable, the amount ow'ng on his dwelling from time to time, so that in the event of death, the balance owing on the dwelling would be at once payable Ivy th<> Life Insurance nspnrtmenit, and, the dwelling would become part of the estate of the purchaser. So that altogether the Government has made it comparatively easv for any one So desiring to acquire their own home. The restriction, o? course, is in favor of the men with small incomes, no one in receipt of more than £175 per annum being eligible to participate in the provisions of the Act. Regarding the [houses at Paynter's T.ane. Fitzroy, the Department has established a precedent which it is to be hoped will be further utilised in order to make the Act work more smoothly and give wider scope 1o the department ami also to applicants. Hitherto, whan applications have been made for workers' dwellings the Department has submitted some 20 or more different designs of cottages from which applicants had to select one, which most suited their requirements, which would then be built to the specifications drawn up by the Department. Rome allowance was mado for variation of the design, but an endeavor was made to keep as near to the original ground .plan as possible. . When the plans were submittal and tenders called for cottages for New Plymouth applicants, it was considered that, the estimates submitted were too high for the class of house proposed to be built, and it seemed as though tile applicants were to be denied the opportunity of acquiring their own homes. As a means for facilitating the scheme here, however, the applicants offered to double their deposits if a better class of house could be provided. A local architect and contractor submitted designs and specifications together with a tender, for the erection of four bungalow residences at Fitzroy, and these, after consideration, were approved and accepted by the Department, and the work was set in progress. Three of the four houses have five rooms and are almost identical in design, but they present nothing of the monotonous and appearance usually conceived when "workers' dwellings" are mentioned. The fourth, which is a six-roomed house, stands between the others and further relieves the appearance of the row. Contrary to local custom the houses have been placed on solid concrete foundatins, and they stand well up on the sections they occupy. The general appearance of the places is most attractive, the bungalow effect being adhered to throughout All the houses are roofed with malthoid roofing, which is, of course, less expensive than iron at the present time and for use on places close to the sea front is considered more durable. The interiors have been arranged with, minute regard for utility and convenience, and at the same time none of the rooms is less than 10ft x 12ft in floor space, wliilo I the best rooms are very much larger. The partitions are of good stout lining boards, and are scrimmed and papered, the papers being exceedingly well chosen with artistic friese effects in several of the rooms. The ceilings are of creauinolored beaver-board, secured with stained battens, while in the kitchen of one of the houses stajned three-ply oregan has been used for the ceiling. All the doors are high-waisted and the window and door furnishings are in keening with the. general design. Electric light and hot and cold water are provided for in each place, while there is also a, septic tank to receive the drainage from each house. The cottaees when complete will form exceedingly comfortable littlo homes, of which any working men might well be proud. The workmanship throughout has been of a high order, and the |

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19180313.2.50

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1918, Page 7

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,193

WORKERS' DWELLINGS. Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1918, Page 7

WORKERS' DWELLINGS. Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1918, Page 7

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