UNUSUAL REQUEST

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1940, Page 6

UNUSUAL REQUEST

SPECIAL RATE ASKED FOR TO PROYIDE MAN'S HOUSE LABOUR FOR HUINGA AREA

Possibly without similar precedent in New Zealand, 20 settlers in the Huinga district yesterday asked the Stratford County Council to purchase a section in the district and to erect a house with the assistance of the State Advances Corporation, the dwelling to be occupied by a casual labourer who would work in the district. The 20 ratepayers were willing to their being formed into a special rating area to enable the county to recover any deficiency between the annual charges under the loan and the rent, should such a deficiency occur. The council was not willing to accept the responsibility itself, but suggested that the State Advances Corporation might take over the project. In Form of Petitlon. The request, which, it was stated, came forward as the result of the drive for increased production, was submitted in the form of a petition, signed by 20 county ratepayers of the district. The petition was as follows: — "The undermentioned ratepayers respectfully petition the Stratford County Council to purchase one-quarter of an acre of land and erect a dwelling thereon in the Huinga district, the locality to be decided upon by the said ratepayers, with the assistance of the State Advances Corporation; such dwelling to be cccupied by a casual labourer and the county council to assess and collect the rent. "The said ratepayers agree to being formed into a special rating area to enable the council to recover any deficiency between the annual charges under the loan, including insurance and an amount for maintenance, and the rent if such deficiency occurs in any year; the special ratepayers to select the tenant." Cr. H. Cook said that it was desired that, if a man were resident in the district for casual farm work, that he should be resident on no one person's property, otherwise the property-holder would have first call on his services, thus robbing the scheme of its community aspect. "It is opening up rather a big question," said the chairman, Cr. J. C. Best, who asked the clerk, Mr. C. Campbell, to make an explanation of the factors involved. Factors Involved. "The matter of the special rating area is one of the first troubles," said Mr. Campbell. "It is contrary to the policy of the Government and the Loans Board in the conversion and' raising of loans. Loans under the Rural Housing Act have to be sanctioned by the Loans Board." Secondly, he continued, there was the Stratford County Council's objection. which was that the Crown enjoyed jkriority so far as special rates were concerned. There was also the question of guaranteeing what the man was going to earn in the district. If a depression period were encountered there might not be employment for a labourer, and .under such conditions it was likely that the ratepayers would find it hard to pay the special rate. Cr. Cook: That point was raised. Were there any defaulters in the district during the last slump? Mr. Campbell: One or two. If the project were proceeded with it would take almost 12 months of negotiation before the house was in use, said Cr. Best. That had been realised, said Cr. Cook, with the result that arrangements to acquire a Public Works Department married farm worker's cottage were in progress. It was suggested also that perhaps the district could retain one of the cottages permanc-ntly and thus do away with the need for a house, but Mr. Beit pointed out that the department was not keen to "put the cottages all over the country," for it thought that they were purely an increased production move. He understood that the State Advances Corporation was very keen to get the scheme started, and that Huinga was the pioneer of the, applicants, said Cr. Best. Was it not possible then for the corporation to finance the first one itself as an experiment. He suggested that representatives of the corporation and the district, and two from the council in an advisory capacity, should discuss the position. "Understand," said Mr. Best, "I don't want to hinder this scheme in any shape or form, but the council has got to consider its own position." After further general discussion, in whi h it was stated* that a casual labourer could be kept in constant work at Huinga, it was decided that a conference should be held, the chairman and clerk to represent the council.