HOUSES FOR WORKERS

Evening Star, Issue 19456, 14 January 1927, Page 5

HOUSES FOR WORKERS

NEW SOUTH WALES SCHEME GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED. Press Association —By Telegraph Copyright. SYDNEY, January 14. (Received January 14, at 10.40 a.m.) The sub-committee of the Parliamentary Labor Party, reporting on the Government’s proposed housing scheme, recommended that legislation in conformity with the report be passed immediately. The Commissioners of the Government Savings Rank should be empowered to advance irom the bank s unds up to 90 per cent, of the capital cost. , _ The report adds that the Commissioners informed the committee that they were prepared to advance at least an additional £500,000 in the remainder of the financial year for a more extensive scheme over and above the £1,600,000 which they estimated would be advanced under the existing scheme. In approved cases, where the Commissioners are satisfied that advances beyond 90 per cent- are justified, the Government shall be responsible for the additional advance over and above the 90 per cent. The Commissioners should have power to grant exemption from life insurance provisions of the scheme where they are of the opinion that hardship would result from insistence on such provisions. [A message received on August 5 stated; The Housing Committee has framed a report regarding the provision of homes for workers. The main principles are:—The State shall advance to approved applicants the capital cost of new homes, repayable by instalments; the State to establish Government life insurance, taking a policy as security for the amount owing. In the event of the death of the husband, the widow or the ( dependents would thus have the home free of encumbrance. The deposit to be paid by the applicant is to be governed by his salary; a man earning up to £250 per annum to pay no deposit, from £250 to £3OO 5 per cent, deposit, graduating upwards till a man with an income of over £I,OOO shall pay a deposit of 25 per cent. The probable weekly payment to cover repayment of capital and interest is not mentioned, but it is pointed out that in Queensland the weekly payment for a £SOO house is 18s 3d. The committee recommends that the control of the building bo E laced beyond Government influence; ut that the Government, through its officers, shall be responsible for the faithful carrying out of the work, _ It recommends, also, that a fair proportion of the houses be built of concrete.]