THE HOUSE SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 56, 30 November 1920, Page 8

THE HOUSE SHORTAGE

RETURNED POLDIERS

INTERESTED

SUGGESTED SETTLEMENT AT LOWER HUTT That returned soldiers of Wellington are intensely interested in the question of hpusiug was proved by the very largo mooning that was held in the clubhouse of the Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association last night for the ipurjwse of discussing details of a scheme for acquiring land owned by Mr. P. Nathan, near the Hutt Park racecourse, on which to build houses and establish what would practically amount to a returned soldiers' settlement. Mr. W. Perry (president of the W.R.S.A.) occupied the chair, and the room was filled to overflowing.

Mr. Perry, in outlining the scheme, said that the meeting had been called m order to get! an idea of how many men would be prepared to go on with the proposition ,provided the conditions were subsequently found to meet with their approval. Near the Hutt Park racecourse thero was a block of 137 acres owned by Mr. Nathan, and on this there was a mortgage of ,£BOOO. Mr. Natlian offered tho land to the R.S.A. if the association could find sufficient numbers to take it up at the practical nominal price (lie spoke advisedly) of .£2OO per aero. The sum of ,£12(1 per acre would be required to pay off the mortgage. The mortgage having been cleared, men would he free to approach the Government for a loan of .£IOOO for the purpose of building houses. They were trying to make arrangements with tho Government whereby timber would be obtained and landed on the job mora cheaply than it. could be purchased by most people, and whereby p. scheme of co-operative building onuld be embarked upon, so that eventually there would be sthnding on the block a returliei soldiers' settlement. The land was only one and n half miles distant from tho Petone railway s'Jation,' and was situ* ated midway between Lower Hutt. and Petone. As the settlement developed it might be possible to establish a bus service for the convenience of the residents, or else lb subsidise the existing bus service. ,iji order that cheap fares might bo obtainable. The whole block had yet to be cut up, surveyed, roaded, etc.. 'and that was a matter for negotiation with the Lower Huilt Borough Council. The 6chenio was far from complete, but if they were satisfied with the outline of it, and if they required houses—the large attendance indicated thaii they did require houses—then that was their opportunity. Minister of Housing Criticised. Mr. W. Pascoe, chairman of the W.R.S.A.'s Land Bureau Sub-Committeu, remarked that the generous offer of Mr. Nathan could be appreciated when ho told them that part of the land had been sold for .£BOO an acre, and thero were offers for double the money nt which it was being submitted to the R.S.A. "Col--onel Mitchell reepmmonded this schema to Cabinet, who did not turn it down, but referred it to the Minister of Housing, who, I think, cares for housiug os much as King Solomon cares for the present prico of butter," continued Mr. Pascoe, amidst laughter. "It went on to the Housing Department from tho Minister. The Deputy-Superintendont of Housing sent for mo and suggested that they should take control of- the scheme. I would not sanction that, seeing that they havo spent, something like w£154,000 on a housing scheme, and six houses are ready for occupation. (Laughter.) Their housing scheme does not suit the R.S.A. We want a scheme whereby you men can, in tho immediate future, get into homes of your own." Mr, Pascoe added that tho chairman (Mr. Perry) had given tho committee valuable advice on the matter. The Housing Department had advised the Minister that tho scheme was practicable. Tho land had to be freehold before they'could get an advance of money from tho Government, and if 80 men deposited £30 each that' would make it clear. Once a start was made by clearing the mortgage the rest of tho scheme would be workable. Tho speaker added that he knew of a team of eleven men—one man u "bloated capitalist" who had saved his gratuity—whu wero prepared to erect a sash and door factory on the job and build tho houses at "rock bottom prices." Mr. J. 1). Harper; of the H.S.A., had agreed to arrange for supplies of timber, shingle could bo obtained on the ground, and as regards other material. Mr. Nathan was willing to cable to firms he know of in the Old Country in order to get the material at the lowest rates (Applause.).

Mr. Nathan supplemented-the remarks of tlio previous speakers, and Btated that hip. idea was that tlm land "should "belong to the E.S.Aj. The price of .£2OO ner acre was, roughly, what tho lana nost him. His idea was not. that they, khould purchase the whole block, for that might prove to be u very difficult financial proposition, but that they should first secure 2(f acres, more or less,' and afterwards purchase the rest of tho block as they could absorb it. They would simply pay interest on uny block on which thev started building." In reply to questions, both Messrs. Perry and Pascoo pointed out that noth-' ing had yet been decided as to tho design of the houses tlint might, be erected, as that was a mattor for individual choice. Mr. Pascoe remarked that it wan his opinion that if Mr. Nathan could ■ guarantee them a supply of cement from Home, then tho houses should bo built in cwicrote. Mr. D. J. B. Seymour asked if there was any suggestion as to the minimum number of applicants it was necessary to havo before the scheme could bo gone on with. Mr. 3?»rry: Wo must have 20 acres to start with. The mortgage is -£120. If 80 men pay a deposit of .£3O that would clear off the mortgage. In tho course of discussion, Mr. Percy said it was hoped that, tlio liepatriation Department would assist the eleven men who were prepared to build the houses in the same way as it hud helped the "Diggers' Sawmilling Company" at Hokitika. Further Details Wanted. Tho fooling was expressed that details should lift given as to what extent the Government would be prepared to assist, the scheme, and what initial outlay would Ibo required. Various speakers pointed out that an advance of .£750 under tho D.F.S. Act was altogether inadequate, as a sum with which to build a house these days, but it was stated that there was a possibility of the Government increasing the grant under the Act from .£IOOO (.£250 for a section and .£7M) for a houso) to .£I2OO.

After a good deal of discussion, it was decided that tho meeting should be adjourned for fourteen days, and that tho Laud Bureau Sub-Committee should ho asked to 'bring down a report within ten days, showing what sum each man would lie required to find and when ho would be required to put down the money, tho report to be available at tho secretary's office.