STATE ADVANCES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11123, 5 February 1930, Page 5

STATE ADVANCES

LOANS ARE NOT’ TO CEASE

STATEMENT BY PRIME ' MINISTER.

WHY HALT IS CAUSED UN AUCKLAND.

NUMBER OF HOMES BEING ABANDONED

(Press Association.) WELLINGTON Feb. 3. A denial of a published suggestion that State Advaeesj loans are to be curtailed was issued by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to-niglit. Sir Joseph Ward authorised tho following statement for publication : “Tlie declaration in a Press Assoeation message from Auckland that owing to tho number of empty houses in Auckland no further Government loans for. tho building of homes will be made until the situation improves, is not a correct statement of the position. It is well known that there are a very' large number of enipty houses in Auckland suburbs and 'the Advances Department has, m addition, had a number oi its securities abandoned chieily through tho difficulties of transport and unemployment. These securities the Department is endeavouring to dispose lof and to that end it has been considered expedient to bring these houses which. comprise recentlyerected dwellings, before the notice of intending applicants desirous of erecting now h,buses.- Should, however. it not be possible lor the Department to satisfy the requirements of an applicant by the sale of one of the Department's available securities, his application would bo dealt with,on its merits, when the 1 lousing position generally would be taken into consideration, in conjunction with the circumstances, relative to the applicant and the proffered securitv •

“In any case where the circumstances justify the Advances Department in entertaining an application. the matter would be dealt with in (he usual manner, and as soon as it is possible to do so. The statement- made in the Press that loans are to cease is ridiculous.” The Press Association message above referred to was sent out from Auckland and stated, “Owing to the number of empty blouses in Auckland no further Government loans for the building of homes will be made until the situation improves. The announcement is contained jn a communication from the Department. The opinion expressed locally is that the .public should have been given a warning.” A simitar decision is reported to have been made in respect to (.’hristchnrcln some davs ago when, in reply to an application for a loan, the Slate Advances Department advised that no more loans would lie granted, in Christchurch until the position in regard to empty dwelling houses had improved.

THE AUCKLAND STATEMENT

(Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, Feb. f. The statement made yesterdav tliat owing to the number of empty houses in Auckland no further Government loans for building houses here would be made until the situation improved was published in consequence of the following letter received by Auckland solicitors Ho clients) from the State Advances deputy superintendent:— 0 “AVith reference to the applications submitted on behalf of the above named clients for loans to erect dwellings, I have to inform you that tho matter was again placed before mem hers of the board of this oflice, wlio have resolved to postpone consideration of the applications for the present. I would like to explain that tlie housing position in Auckland is not at present considered satisfactory inasmuch as there are a good number of empty houses to lie found about the city. In the circumstances the members of the board do not consider it expedient to grant any further loans for the building of more dwelling houses just now in Auckland. As soon as the situation improves and it is found that there are no unoccupied buildings in the city and that further dwelling houses are required, your clients may renew their applications, when _ the matter will receive further consideration.”

NO STOPPAGE IN WELLINGTON

MISUNDERSTANDING AT CHRISTCHURCH

SUPERINTENDENT’S EXPLANATION i Presb Association./ WELLINGTON, Feb. 4. The superintendent of the State Advances" Department, interviewed to-day, said the conditions in AVellington did not justify similar action to that taken in Auckland, where it was estimated that 1400 houses were vacant. The decision affected Auckland and the announcement that no. more loans would he made in Christchurch was incorrect- There had been a, misunderstanding.