BOROUGH HOUSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1921, Page 6

BOROUGH HOUSES.

DISSATISFACTION IN STRATFORD. r A QUESTION OF PRICE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Nov. 22. At a recent meeting of the Stratford Borough Council Cr. Ward expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the the work of building the borough houses had been carried out, and he asked, ou behalf of dissatisfied owners of houses, that the housing committee should bring down a report of its activities. The report was presented at Thursday night’s meeting of the council, when Cr. Ward again raised an emphatic protest against the manner in which the building of the houses had been carried out. The report stated: “At the ordinary meeting of the council on February 16, 1920, the town clerk, under instructions from the council, presented a report on the question of loans to local bodies for the purpose of the erection of workers’ homes. A resolution was carried I appointing the Mayor, Crs. Hunter, Cameron, Jackson and Walsh a committee to call applications for workers’ homes, and plans Nos. 24 and 25 of the Government’s Housing Department were adopted as the type of house to be built on borough reserves. The town clerk was instructed to apply for a loan; the loan was -duly authorised, and the committee was given authority to proceed with the work.

PRICES, OF HOUSES. “The committee ultimately decided to ask local builders to supply’plans and specifications for four and five-roomed houses respectively, together with the price at which they were prepared t« erect them. Only one builder complied with the committee’s request. A report was obtained from Mr. Healy, and the committee then decided to ask him to submit plans and specifications, and these were finally adopted. The estimated cost of erection of a five-roomed house was £875. “Tenders were called for the work, and two were received, the prices being as follows: £1375 and £lO6O. To these amounts had to be added the architect’s fees for supervision, etc., making the totals £1462 and £1129 respectively. These tenders were considered too high, and on Mr. Healy undertaking to do the work within his own estimate he was authorised to build a house at the cemetery, the cost not to exceea £9OO, the distance from town being responsible for the added amount over his estimates.

“The cost of this cottage was £905, including architect’s fees, and on this result the committee decided to erect further houses as applied for, at. a cost not exceeding £lOOO. These houses have now been completed. Where the cost has ex? ceeded £lOOO the applicants pay the difference. “In making a comparison between the tenders for the cottages as originally planned and specified and the houses lately erected, it must be borne in mind that these later houses have concrete foundations in lieu of wood, porcelain baths in lieu of zinc, outsheds, fencing and concrete paths not included in the original specifications; the more expensive house having a motor shed in addition. The cost includes architect’s fees.

“In presenting this report to the council yofir committee wishes to place on record its appreciation of Mi-. Healy’s services to the council in connection with its housing scheme, and its entire satisfaction with the work by him.* Cost of houses: No. 2, £1036 14s 6d; No. 3, £lOl9 Is 8d; No. 4, £lO7O 12s. The committee endeavored to obtain tenders on the plans and specifications of the Government Housing Department, but were unsuccessful.” THE DISCUSSION. The. Mayor, in presenting the report, said that they had built houses to mitigate the housing shortage, and also to get their vacant sections taken up. He wanted the council to leave the matter of costs of houses to the committee, which was going to meet the people in the houses and hear what they had to say about the costs. Cr. Ward said that it was a remarkable thing that the houses had cost £lO6O and £lO7O. The cemetery house had cost £970. One ox the men had been in his house

for nine weeks, and this was the first I time a report had come up from the com- ’ mittee. The Mayor said that the people in the ' houses had had at the lowest £ll5 worth of , extras put into their houses, which were ' not put in the cemetery cottage. Cr. Ward contended that the people had ; not had fair play from the council. They ; had not been consulted in any way what- t ever. He thought that they should get an outside architect to value the work. The people had not had fair play. The Mayor: “Who has not had fair play ?” Cr. Ward mentioned the names of three residents in the borough houses who were complaining. The Mayor asked if Cr. Ward were instructed by those people to speak on their behalf. If so, he would ask the reporters to make a verbatim report. Cr. Ward said that he had been asked to speak about the matter in the council. One of the men had been told £lOOO would build his house. The cemetery cottage had cost £970. When it was built the price of iron was £65 per ton, as against £s’ when the latter house was built; white lead was 100 s as against 80s, and oil was Us 6d as against 7s 6d. He was assured that a builder in the town could put up the houses which had cost over £lOOO for £950. - It was disgraceful the way things had been carried on. Cr. Jackson said that the housing com- , mittee was meeting the three gentlemen to-morrow night, and discussing matters with them, when they could see if things 1 were wrong. The Mayor said he would like to make a few remarks on the placing on record of the council’s appreciation of Mr. Healy’s services. If Mr. Healy had not come forward those houses would never have been built. He was their last hope. He had come forward and saved money for the council, and had given the owners better j value. The report was adopted. Cr. Ward voted • against its adoption, and asked that his J vote be recorded in the minutes.