THE HOUSING BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 18, 16 October 1919, Page 5

THE HOUSING BILL

GOVERNMENT 'PROPOSES AMEND- • ' MENTS. Several amendments to the Housing Bill were introduced in tho House of Representatives )))■ Governor's Message last night. They were read a firat and second time, and referred to the committee on the Bill; The, Prime Minister, explaining the Amendments, said it had been suggested in the course of the debate on the second reading that the limit of income in the case- of advances to workers for housing purposes was top low. He agreed with that, and he proposed to psk tho lions* to Increase the limit from .£225 to £275 for the paront with not more tli.m tiro children. The limit in the case of a man with a larger family would rife to ' ~ ■ Another amendment proposed that the life of a wooden building should be reckoned at thirty years, instead of twentyfive and a half years, and the. life of a building of permanent material at 3(iJ years. The payments would be adjusted over these periods, thus reducing the rents.

H was proposed that the rate of interest should be uniform for all the classes covered bv the Bill. The rate would ' be nominally 5 per cent., but really &\ per ;cent., since there would be I per cent.' rebato for prompt payment. Another- amendment, added Mr. Maseey, save counties tho opportunity of raising money for workers , homes .without going'through the form of a poll. Hβ was inclined to allow harbour boards with rating areas to come in also. ■ A sixth part was being addod to the five parts already coiit.-|in?d in the Bill. This new part referred principally to the limit under the Advance.? to Workers Act. The limit had stood for many Years at £150. He proposed to increase , it. to jerso. • . ■ ' • ■ ' Other amendments proposed were conGequential on the amendments he hijd mentioned.