WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8487, 15 July 1907, Page 5

WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

The money expended in acquiring land for workers' dwellings for the financial year 1906-7 was £658; the sum of £26,894 was expended in preparing the land and erecting dwellings out of Land for Settlements funds, and £3,733 upon ordinary Crown lands. Seventy-one dwellings were erected, and fifty-two were leased. The figures for the chief centres are: —Otahuhu and Ellerslie —erected 20, leased 19; Petone, Wellington—erected 25, leased 17; Sydenham, Christchurch—erected 12, leased 12; Windle, Dunedin, erected j 14 leased 4. Reporting to the Minister for Labour, Mr J. Mackay, chief advisory officer to the board, reports that the style of the houses has been generally approved and considerable astonishment has been expressed that such comfortable and pretentious houses could be erected for the money and let at such low rentals. The scheme would, he was sure, prove an unqualified success, provided the land selected be either in close proximity to " the workers' employment or the cost of transit was lo.v from the dwellings to the centre of the city in which they were built. In order that smaller houses at a very low rental might be available, it was intended that some of the houses now to be erected should have three and four rooms, but be fitted with all modern conveniences, including the. hot water system. They would, however, bo less ornamental outside. Great difficutly, he added, was experienced in getting suitable land close tu Wellington city. Mr J. E. March, inspector and supervisor, reports:— "The class of tenants throughout the colony is very good, and many express gratitude for what the Government has done for them in this direction. There were no arrears of rent on March 31st."

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