STATE HOUSING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 210, 24 May 1918, Page 5

STATE HOUSING

5> ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL BODIES. The extent to which tho State is prepared to assist local authorities after the war in oarrying through housing schemes for tho working classes was announced by Mr. Hayes Fisher, President of the British Local Government Board, in a circular letter. In nearly 900 cases willingness has been expressed to prepare schemes that will lead to the erection of> some 150,000 lioubbs. Tho Treasury lay down the principle that "tho full cost of sohemes should in the first instance bo met out of thfe funds of the local authority by means df loans to be raised for a period of not less than seven years; the necessary State assistance should bo given in the form of a grant of a percentage of the loan charge, sufficient to reliavo the authority of 75 per cent, of tho estimated annual deficit." Mr. Fisher takes tho view that there must bo a partnership between the Stato and the loeal authorities, but while not regarding the promised assistance as inadequate generally, ho has secured tho consent of tho Treasury to tho Board having discretion in cases in which 25 per cent, of the deficit in respect of any scheme would exceed the produco of a penny rate to increase the grant beyond 75 per cent., subject to the condition that tho amount of the deficit shall not bo reduced bolow tho produce of a .penny rate. In schemes assisted by tho Government tho suggestion is made that not more than 12 houses, or in agricultural areas eight houses, bo erected to the acre. It is to be a condition of Stato assistance that building bo commenced within two months of tho sanction of a loan, and that the houses bo completed in less than a year.