Page 24 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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A sub-economic housing scheme at Kalk Bay can never be more than a palliative
for a comparatively small section of the fishermen and their families. It cannot possibly
effect a permanent improvement in the housing conditions of the general body of fisher-
men, and there can be no provision for any contribution towards the future housing needs of
an expanding community. Moreover, a factor of transcending importance from a financial
point of view is that the scheme of re-housing on the existing slum sites at Kalk Bay must
bear the initial disadvantage of a site value of £286 per cottage compared to a
corresponding value of £20 per cottage for the Steenberg – Retreat area, the effect upon the
rent being no less than 3/4d per week.
In my considered opinion, therefore, the introduction of sub-economic housing into
a renowned seaside resort, such as Kalk Bay undoubtedly is, for ameliorating the housing
conditions of a small section of the inhabitants who could be infinitely better housed at
Steenberg – Retreat is a retrograde step which I would submit, with all due deference,
cannot be recommended.

The representatives of the fishermen have advanced a number of reasons against
their transference from Kalk Bay.
These are in effect:
(1) The necessity of the fishermen to live near the harbour for the purposes of taking
out boats at all hours of the night and day and for the care and supervision of boats during
storms.
(2) The hardships which the fishermen will suffer in the absence of facilities which
they at present enjoy of obtaining shelter and food at their homes within easy reach of the
harbour.
(3) The cost of travelling to and from the harbour if they reside some distance away.
These are all difficulties which with proper treatment could be substantially over-
come. The question of shelter and food could be dealt with by the erection of a suitably
equipped building within the harbour area. The provision of a telephone at the shelter and
one at the caretaker’s house would facilitate communication between the lookout and the
fishermen at their homes.
Transportation by rail and road to Kalk Bay from the Steenberg – Retreat area is
convenient during ordinary hours, but to meet the requirements of the fishermen for
conveyance during the night I would recommend for the favourable consideration of your
Committee that a bus service be established in conjunction with the Council’s re-housing
scheme at Steenberg – Retreat. The service could be made available only during the night,
and only bona fide fishermen tenants of the Council’s houses would be permitted to avail
themselves of the service. One bus would probably suffice, and the running costs, it is
estimated, would not exceed £30 per week for an all night service. I contend that the
Council could supply this service free of charge as part and parcel of the re-housing
scheme. The Railway Administration, for their part, could be approached for some
concession towards the cost of railway season tickets for the Council’s tenants.