ALLOCATION OF STATE HOUSES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 10

ALLOCATION OF STATE HOUSES

Minister Explains Method

PREFERENCE TO MOST

NEEDY CASES

The method of allocating State houses was explained yesterday by the Minister of Housing, Mr. Armstrong. He said that a Press Association message summarizing remarks made by him in Auckland gave the impression, that the departure from the method of balloting applications was only now being abandoned in favour of the selection of tenants according to the urgency of individual cases. However, this was not so, and ever since 1931 houses had been allocated in such a way as to give preference to the most needy cases. To remove the misunderstanding which apparently still persisted regarding the ballot method of allotting tenancies, Mr. Armstrong said that actually only three lots of houses had ever been balloted for and those ballots were held away back in 1937 in respect of some houses at Miramar, Lower Hutt, and Johnsonville. It bad been intended about that time to ballot the first lot of houses available in Auckland, but the ballot was abandoned. Individual Selection.

“Ever since 1937,” said Mr. Armstrong, “the method adopted has been one of individual selection based on the length of time the application has been lodged, together with the urgency of the applicant’s particular circumstances. At the time these ballots were held the number of applications for the new houses was comparatively small, and it was thought that balloting would be the fairest method. But as soon as the quality of the houses became apparent, thousands of people who had not previously contemplated applying sent in applications and within a few weeks the whole aspect of the allocation question changed completely. “Unfortunately, 1 many applicants whose request for a new house has not vet been satisfied still quote as examples of unfair allocation cases of people who secured houses in the 1937 ballots, under which it is quite possible people who were then suitably housed were fortunate enough to draw a new house in the ballot. The committee associated with the State Advances Corporation which selects the tenants according to their urgency seeks to be quite fair in finding the basis, of comparison between tlie almost, innumerable different sets of family circumstances which can arise, and I consider it does its work very satisfactorily. The Government hopes with the acceleration of the building programme which should become possible as a result of the immigration of skilled labour now proceeding, to reduce the period of waiting for houses, but naturally it will take some little time for this improvement to become apparent. “To those whose housing needs are urgent, I would repeat the advice which I have given previously through the Press that they should keep the nearest branch office of -the State Advances Corporation informed of their circumstances so that the committee will have up-to-date information before it when allocations are being made.”