MUNICIPAL HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 29, 29 October 1920, Page 8

MUNICIPAL HOUSES

QUESTION OF THE- COST.

The qii&tion of the cost of the houses being erected dv the City Council was at last night's meeting of the coKMoil, ivhon Councillor T. Forsyth asked if any steps were , being, taken to lower ' the cost of the houses. From statements recently published, ho said, it appeared that the Government houses at Miraniar were vei7 much less costly than the houses being built by tho City Council. It had been suggested. that Iho main reason for the higher price of the council's houses was the overhead expenses. Councillor ft. A. Wright, M.P. (chairman of the Housing Committee), stated that there was no comparison between tW houses erected by Hie conncil and those being built by the Government. The City Council's houses were of a very much better type. An effort must be. inn do, however, to reduce the price and the question of overhead. charges would have to be gone into. It seemed to him that there should be something is the nature of a sliding scale, but they would have to secure the services of some actuary to see if it would be possible to propound such a scheme. i Councillor P. Eraser. M.P., referred ti. the statement made •in the House of Representatives bv Mr. J. A. Nash, M.P.. to the effect that in Palmerston North concrete houses wero being built for .£9OO. He suggested that the. Housing Committee should make inquiries iegarding what was being done at Polmerston North, Councillor Wridit said that the committee was writing to Palmerston North asking for full particulars. The Mayor: I understand that tho new houses will not exceed .-C!HKi. Councillor Wright remarked that tho cost of the houses now being built, would be in the vicinity of ; t!WO. but thatiyis not including the price of the sections.