HARBOR BOARD COTTAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1920, Page 5

HARBOR BOARD COTTAGES.

THE INSPECTOR'S REPORT. The criticism recently levelled at th-; New Plymouth Harbor Board by Borough Inspector Day regarding the "shacks" which had been erected for the workmen, was commented upon at a iheeting of tnii Board yesterday. It will be recalled that the Borough Council decided not to publish the report, but to first submit it to the Board. The inspector characterised the overcrowding as a disgrace, and contended that in "the interests of decency and public health the Board should discontinue the practice. •The chairman of the Board (Mr. Newton King), who introduced .th* subject, read a newspaper extract of the Council' 9 discussion on the matter, and he expressed the opinion that.this report gave an exaggerated idea of the matter as compared with the Inspector's actual report. Mr. King read a letter from the Board's employees as follows: "With regard to the houses in the Harbor Board quarries, we are fully satisfied with the conditions we arc living under." » He said the Board knew, of course, that the cottages were not what they should be, but accommodation had to be found for the men somewhere. The sites were admirably adapted for healthy residences. Mr. C. H. Burgess said there was a want of sanitary .arrangements, and the Board ought to see that these matters were beyond reproach. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson said he understood the cottages were built for single people. He did not think they were suitable for women and children. Mr. E. Maxwell said the position Was absolutely misunderstood. The Boar.l had special work to carry on, and must provide accommodation for the men There was nothing in common, however, between temporary premises for occupation by workmen and ordinary residences. The Board could not be expected to build dwellings at temporary works. It married men chose to come to the works, and brought their wives and families, the Board could not turn them out. Throughput the country the shortage of housing accommodation was general trouble. Mr. Burgess: The Board should ta:c« the first opportunity of making sanitary arrangements. Mr. Wilkinson pointed out that the matter of married people occupying the cottages had not been before the Board, and the responsibility for allowing married men in occupation must be taken by the engineer. Mr. Lee (one of the engineers) sa.d that sinsrle men had come to the wort, but had got tired of baching, and many left. Others brought their wives anil families.

Mr. Blair Mason (Advisory Engineer) said lie had recently interviewed the occupiers of the cottages during the lunch hour. Statements were made by them voluntarily to the effect that they were .comfortably situated. As far as the sanitary arrangements were concerned ha saw nothing objectionable. They were as perfect a3 could be found in any place where there was no water sewerage, and. in fact, were in a much better condition than many residences in the town outside the sewerage area. Mr. Mason contended that the report was not such as cajild be expected from an officer of a public body. The'whole thing was ''grossly exaggerated." Mr. Wilkinson reiterated that the "shacks" were never intended for occupation by families. The nm-slion was whether the Board was going to allow the matter to continue. The chairman: We must have the men. Another point raised by Mr. Wilkinson was that so many men were to be allotted to a hut. but when a family occupied it only one workman was being accommodated. Of course, married men should have preference. . The members of the Board decided to make an inspection of the cottages.