MEETING HOUSING NEEDS

Chronicle (Levin), 20 June 1947, Page 6

MEETING HOUSING NEEDS

■Press Assoeiation

R.S.A. ASKS FOR HIGHEST PRIORITY v - \

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, June 19. . The Dominion Gouneii of the R.S.A. today "resolved to urbe the Government to grant the highest priority in building materials to ex-servieemen who have been granted permits to build homes and to permit the construction of tem-. porary homes where seeond-harid' mai teria^ls are available. Strieter supervision of building is to be urged to enforce the regulations regarding build: ing permits. and to ensure more diligence in proseeuting olfenders. ■ It was noted that seaside eottages and baches erected on beaches w'ithin county council jurisdiction ajipeared to be free from locai control and too remote for control by Government inspectors. An increase of the pre'ferential allo cation of State rental houses to returned servicemen from 50 to 75 J»er cent until most of the urgent cases have been dealt with is to be sought. The Rehabilitation Department is to be requested to view with more sympathy applications of returned servicemen desiring small loans for sub-standard homes on a short term oniy. In view of the steady rise in the cost of building a more generous interpretation and application of the provisions for interest free loans is to be sought. A Palmerston Nortli remit was carried authorising an inquiry from the Minister of Rehabilitation as to whetlier borer treatment was effec'tive, whether the cliarges now made for such treatment were justified and whethei competitive quotations should not ' be obtained for borer treatment. It was resolved to ask the Government that suitable areas properiy ser viced be prepared at once in all towns where sufficient residential sections are not available for the housmg needs oi returned servicemen, such areas to be made available at reasonable prices.