§ Mr. Parkerasked the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs (1) what number of houses and flats, respectively, have been completed to date by the St John's Housing Corporation: and what programme is in hand;
(2) what number of full-time and part-time farm holdings have been established to date as part of the reconstruction programme in the Humber Valley, Codroy Valley and Newfoundland, as a whole;
(3) the numbers and names of town and rural district councils set up, to date, in Newfoundland; and any places where they are to be set up in the near future;
32W(4) what acreage of land has been cleared for settlement in the Humber Valley, Codroy Valley and Newfoundland, as a whole, during 1946.
MR. BOTTOMLEY, pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 20th December, 1946; Vol. 431, column 476], supplied the following information:
(1) 58 houses have been completed and occupied to date; one block of five flats should be completed in a week's time. The delay is largely attributable to shortage of materials. The programme in hand includes 19 houses nearing completion, while 71 houses and 7 blocks of five units each and two blocks of 26 units each are in course of erection. It is contemplated that an additional 100 houses will be built next year.
(2) In the Upper Humber Valley, 28 full-time holdings have been established and the holders are in residence; no part-time holdings are contemplated in this area. In addition 66 farm lots have been laid out and 24 partly cleared. The total acreage cleared and partly cleared to date is 424. Shortage of machinery has impeded progress. There is no special scheme applicable to the Codroy Valley which is included in the general land clearing reconstruction scheme applicable to Newfoundland as a whole. This scheme is at present mainly concerned with part-time holdings of about ten acres each. In its first two years, 1944 and 1945, it was applied to extensions of existing small holdings as well as new clearings; since then it has been restricted, because of shortage of machinery, to ex-Servicemen. The total acreage of such holdings cleared to date is 1,266. This does not include the acreage cleared before 1944 under ordinary Departmental policy.
(3) The following town and rural district councils have been established to date:
Town Councils—Windsor, Corner Brook West, Grand Bank, Harbour Grace. St. Anthony, Wesleyville, Channel, Belleoram, Lewisporte, Fortune.
Rural District Councils—Springdale, Placentia, Badger's Quay.
The following areas are to be incorporated in the near future:
The Town of Curling, The Town of Fogo, The Town of Freshwater (Placentia Bay).
33W(4) Upper Humber Valley, cleared in 1946, 224 acres. Newfoundland (including Codroy Valley—see (2) above—and Upper Humber Valley), cleared in 1946, 610 acres.