Rushden Housing Scheme

Proposed Reduction of Cost

'Reporting Progress' at the Urban Council Meeting

At the meeting of the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday night the Clerk ''reported progress'' with regard to the municipal housing scheme. He explained that the Urban Council had pressed forward the scheme in every possible way, and had provisionally accepted the tender of Mr. Harry Fisher, of Northampton, for the work. A letter had been received from the office of the Housing Commissioner, in which it was stated: "I have sent the tenders to the Ministry of Health, making certain suggestions with a view to effecting economy." A letter, dated August 12th, had been received from Mr. J. W. Fisher, the architect, as follows: "I went to London on July 25th and 31st, and saw the Commissioner's Surveyor for Housing Schemes, with a schedule of all prices the contractor (Mr. H. Fisher) had allowed in his estimate, and gave all information for reducing the cost of the 24 houses by about £500. He informed me that the contract would be made out on the E.I.B.A. form for the original amount of the estimate, and that the adjustment would be made when the work was completed, and that he would at once forward the estimate, etc., to the Local Government Board, and expected it would be sanctioned in about a week or ten days."

Mr. Baseley said he thought all the delay was disgusting. He protested against all the camouflage the Government had practiced over the housing scheme. It was time the Urban Council moved pretty strongly. Dr. Addison congratulated the Council on pushing the scheme forward, and yet they could not get a start with it. He thought a letter ought to be sent to the Government protecting against this unwarrantable delay. Overcrowding was taking place in Rushden, and it was a menace to the public health. He moved that a letter of protest be sent.

Mr. Bates seconded.

The Chairman: Is it the slightest use? Mr. Fisher tells me he is sure the thing is going on, and that nothing that can be done in this way will hasten it. He says there is no blame attached to us as a Council. If there is any blame at all, he says, it is on the shoulders of the people whom we cannot reach.

Mr. Spencer: I support the vote of protest. I think the public exposure will do good. It will take something to move a Government constituted as this is. Some people seem to think we have power to build the houses ourselves, but we have not.

Mr. Hornsby: If I thought it would help at all I would support it, but I am afraid it will not. It might have the opposite effect. I think we are all disgusted at the delay which is taking place, but there is so much red tape, and I am satisfied the officials would not take the slightest notice of a protest.

Mr. Bates: The officials will not take notice of it, but the town will.

The proposition was carried without dissent.

Council Housing