THE HOUSING SCHEME

Evening Star, Issue 22460, 3 October 1936, Page 16

THE HOUSING SCHEME

GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TAKE SHAPE -HO TWO HOUSES ALIKE IN STREET [From Our Paruamextarv Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 3. Tho Government’s housing scheme is rapidly taking shape, and there have been important developments during tbo past few days indicating that the scheme is going to be one of the most important ever undertaken by a Government in New Zealand. Mr Wilson, of the firm of Gummer and Forde, architects, Auckland, is to take up the position of architectural adviser to the Director of Housing Construction, and the Director of Town Planning (Mr Hammond) will advise from the townplanning aspect. In discussing tho housing question generally to-day, the Under-Secretary to tho Minister of Finance (Mr Lee) said that there had been criticism in regard to tho Orakei area in Auckland. It had been stated that it was possible there would bo fair-sized bungalows for higher paid skilled workers, or that there might he cottages similar to those built by the Auckland City Council, or the standard type of railway cottage. Mr Lee said there would bo nothing like that, and it was more than possible that there would not be two houses alike in one street. The houses would not he only for the higher paid workers. The Prime Minister had determined that tho working people should have their share of choice sites as well as their share of the valleys. Tho areas would bo designed on the best town-planning principle, and the Housing Department felt that the scheme it would put into operation would make Orakei and other areas, such as tho Hutt Valley, garden suburbs in the true sense of the term.

It is understood that, while tho houses will be constructed to a certain standard, those applying for houses will be allowed to select their own designs.