AUCKLAND'S SCHEME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 68, 7 April 1937, Page 13

AUCKLAND'S SCHEME

-Press Association.)

Rate of 36 a Month

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. A start will be made by the, Fletchei Construction Company to-morrow with the erection of the first building on the Orakei housing site. ' This is the large administrative block containing offices, stores and workshops not only for the contractors themselves but also for the sub-contractors, who will undertake plumbing, painting, and other work. The construction of the houses which are included in the contract is expected to begin on May 1, and under the company ;s programme they will be finished at the rate of 36 a month. It is hoped the first will be ready for occupation in July. When the work is in full swing at Orakei it is expected about 30 tradesmen will be employed. These wili probably be obtained without difSculty from Auckland and its vicinity. Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary UnderiSe cretary to the Minister of Finance, spent this afternoon xeceiving callers .■who were interested in the Government/s housing scheme, most of them being prospective tenants.- ^ "There is no doubt that an enormous demand exists in Auckland for new houses,77 he said, "and I am convinced that when the first of them are complete the demand will be even greater. There is nothing like an actual demonstration. I am sure that the people who go to Orakei will find the houses much more attractive than they ever expected.77 Although he was unable to give details of the conditions under which tho houses would be let, Mr Lee aaid ifc was .probable the income limit of £6 week 'for tenants would eventually be raised. fcjuchi a limit, if it were retained, would ;debar even some of the men employed in building and equipping the houses. The Government did not wisk occupancy to be confined to one stratum of society, bnt rather larger groups of dwellings should provide a cross section of ihe community.