HOUSING SCHEME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20125, 20 December 1939, Page 6

HOUSING SCHEME

LOANS FOR FARMERS DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS COOK COUNTY NEED j j EARLY CONSIDERATION ! Consideration is to 'be given by the Cook County Council at an early date to a Government scheme for financing the erection of farm houses through the council. Councillors stated that there was an urgent need for housing, one councillor saying that the conditions were deplorable in some cases. The council, however, was not prepared to adopt the Government’s new scheme without thorough examination.

Explaining the scheme, the county clerk. Mr. F. T. Robinson, said that it provided for the raising of loans and advancing money to farmers for housing. The council would receive the money from the Government at 3 per cent and would advance it to the farmers at 3]- per cent, the council taking responsibility for everything for the J per cent consideration. The loan was to be a first charge on the land. Cr. F. S. Bowen moved that the council take no action, because it had insufficient departments of its own to carry the work out. The Government was seeking to place an unfair responsibility on the council. Cr. G. V. Smith seconded the motion. Cr. E. 11. Baker urged that the council should not turn the proposal down flatly, for there was an urgent need of housing in some parts of the district. He moved an amendment that | consideration of the matter be de- ! ferred until the next meeting. Cr. G. V. Smith agreed that there was a need for houses, but at present many settlers could not pay their rates, and it would be that type of person who most likely would make application for housing loans, which might become a liability on the other ratepayers. More Information Desired Cr. M. T. B. Hall supported the proposal to refer the matter to a future meeting, for the scheme might have many desirable qualities, ! although it might be no use at all. He | would not be prepared to pass an opinion until he knew more about the scheme. Cr. C. Tietjen agreed that more dwellings were required and If money could be secured so cheaply the settlers should make use of it. Cr. S. T. Gray also pointed to the need for further building work, particularly on stations. Many young, men left the land because there was no place for them to live when married.

The county clerk said that there was great interest in the scheme among the ratepayers, and he had one application for a loan by noon on the day following the passing of the Act.

Cr. Baker said that many of the conditions of living in the country were really depressing, and the council should not shrink from additional work to help to relieve the need, so long as the council was not involved in extra cost.

Cr. Hall said that some of the housing on both dairy and sheep farms was deplorable.

The motion submitted by Cr. Bowen was withdrawn, and Cr. Baker’s proposal to refer the matter to a future meeting was carried.