GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TO RURAL HOUSING

Chronicle (Levin), 15 December 1947, Page 4

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TO RURAL HOUSING

WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. Where there was evidenee of a eontinuing deniand for State rentai howses in eountry towns ahd townships the Government was prepared' to expand the Housing Depar t men t 's - ac ti v it res to the fullest possiole extent, the Minister of Works (Mr. yemple) has repiied to representations fronr Federated Farm- | ers. The Minister said the Government was anxious to cooperate and assist as niuch as possible, but it was felt that inuelr greater advantage could be taken of the assistance already avaiJable through the legislation to farm propertv owners for improving or increasing housing accoinmodation. It was recommended that Federated Farmers should strongiy represent to those countv councils which. were not operating under the Rural Housing Act, 1939, to do so without delay. A proposal by Federated Farmers which was worthy of further examination was that, in isolated rural areas, the Government should erect up to 1000 State rentai houses 011 land to be acquired, Federated Farmers guaranteeing the pavment of rentals to the Htate Advances Corporation. It was considered, however, that countv councils should accept responsibilitv for aclininistration and guarantee of the rentals and the general supervision of the properties rather than for these to be assumed by Federated Farmers. "Opposition might be voiced by countv councils to such a proposal," said Mr. Semple, "but I am sure it is in the best- interests of the farming communitv. ' ' The Minister asked Federated Farmers to arrunge a survey of the number, size and location of dwellings needed in isolated areas.