RURAL HOUSING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 152, 26 April 1940, Page 4

RURAL HOUSING

ADVANCES TO FARMERS ONE COUNCILLOR OBJECTS Referring to a recommendation from the Finance Committee that public notice should be given concerning certain proposed actions m regard to the Rural Housing Act,. 1939, Cr McCracken at Tuesday's meeting of the County Council informed the Council that about fifteen applications for loans under the Act had so far been received. Cr McCracken said that the clause reading "The council's policy in grant ing Rural Housing Loans to ratepayers AvilT be such which will ensure that all interest and loan repayment charges will be paid b l jr the ratepayers availing themselves of Housing Loans Advances,," meant that the money advanced woukl be fully secured. "We will \i&%e fio be strict on that point,'' sa'lll McCracken. "The ratepayers should not be saddled with a liability.'* Conditions of Application. Answering questions from several councillors, Cr McCracken said that if the house was not required ftw? accommodation, either for the farmer or farm labour, the applications would not be granted. The conditions required that the mortgagee must agree to the loan and thjct Council then took priority over the mortgagee. Cr McCready questioned the possible striking of a special rate on all unimproved rateable property in the County as security for the loan. He pointed out that it would be a hardship on ratepayers in the townships as they would be liable for the special rate*, yet under the terms of the Act they could not benefit. The Chairman: Their rates are smaller than those in the country. Cr McCready: They are the same in proportion. If the scheme is considered such a good idea, why strike a special rate for security? If it-is a safe investment for the Government leave the rate out of it. That is one of the points on which you are going to get opposition. The Chairman said he did not see how it was possible to alter that! aspect. Necessity May Not Arise. The point that farmers availing themselves of the scheme should be allowed to employ day labour in the construction of the houses was advanced by Cr Wardlaw and in this he had the support of Cr Burt. Cr McGougan said he knew farmers who have been wanting houses and under the proposed scheme they would be able to get them. Personally, he considered the scheme to be the very thing required. The necessity to strike the special rate might never arise, he said, and in any case he would rather the Council handled the scheme than the Government. It was decided that the Chairman and Councillors McCracken, Spence and Lux ton form a committee to report on working details in regard to Rural Housing. On the motion to give public notice concerning the proposals of the Council, Cr McCready recorded his vote in the negative.