MORE STATE HOUSES FOR MASTERTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 June 1939, Page 3

MORE STATE HOUSES FOR MASTERTON

MODERN DWELLINGS MAKE COSY HOMES

RENDERS have now been called for the erection of a further 19 unit dwellings in Masterton under the State housing scheme. With the 12 units for which tenders were called at the end of April and the 54 houses either already completed or in course of construction, together with another 15 to 20 State houses contemplated. Masterton will, by the end of the year, possess sections of modern homes comparable with any town in New Zealand.

Finished either in brick or plaster or built entirely of wood, the dwellings have a wide variety of design and colouring that effectively avoids any suggestion of sameness. Plaster is being used largely to overcome the shortage of timber and at the same time it produces quite a pleasing finish. Tiled roofs contrast with the Hat tops of parapet houses while two storey dwellings here and there relieve the line of single storey houses. A feature of the settlement is that all electric power lines and drainage connections are made from the back of the houses, so that the streets, when completed, will be without any disfigurement from poles and wires. Another innovation is the placing of the houses in such a position that the principal rooms are located where they receive the maximum amount of sunshine. Hence it is not unusual to find a house actually built back to the road. The idea is to provide the kitchen with the morning sun, to ensure that the living room enjoys the sun all day if possible and to so place the bedrooms that they are in the sunniest position possible. The dwellings are decorated in a modern colour scheme, in the carrying out of which a lady employed by the Department is consulted. For exterior decoration there are many pleasing shades in evidence while interiors are finished in one of several creams, greens and blues. Each house has hot and cold water over tubs, bath and sink; has either a gas cooker or electric range and a. safe so built as to ensure complete ventilation for vegetables and food, besides the usual conveniences. Indoor aerials are fitted in every home. Copper piping- is used throughout and the general standard of material is slightly better than that in the usual house. Every roof is ventilated. GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. All the grounds will receive the attention of the Department’s landscape gardener and tenants are at liberty to make any suggestions to him regarding the type of plant suitable for the position. The Department will supply hedges for planting along the divisional fences at the back and sides and

will plant a few shrubs in front of the houses. Low concrete walls are to be erected in front of the houses and trellis fences between them. Provision is made for the erection of three community garages, each of which will accommodate 12 cars. The erection of these will depend largely on the number of tenants requiring car accommodation. It is understood that a fair number of tenants will require garage space. There are also two recreation reserves in the Cornwall Street settlement.

By the end of the year there will be approximately 100 State houses occupied in Masterton. Eketahuna now has four, Carterton has six and nine are being built in Greytown. Seven houses will soon be erected in Martinborough and five in Featherston.