STATE HOUSES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 110, 26 May 1937, Page 4

STATE HOUSES

-Preee AfisociatioBiJ

Mr. Lee Replies to Criftcs

(Bt Telegfaph-

. CHEISTCHURGH, Last Night. *T am not apprehensive of the criticism of rents having regard to the pfeserit bUildirig c'Osts. What 1 am appreherisivo about is that other people building houses will claim that the rerits are too low and will p'ut them Out of business," said Mr. J. A-. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Housing, repiying to- the ' comriferit about the rents likely to b0 charged for Gover'ttmerit horises. Mr. Lee clairiie'd that the 17s 6d arid £1 uriitS iri tHa Government Housing ffcherite" when built privately were being let to-day fbt from 30s to' £2, If anybody could- find being let to-day a type of house similar to the 25s uriit arid let at a figure approaching that r'CriM ; he would like to see it. 1 "Soirie people say #e shorild briild ; cheaper houses but the niost we could : d'o would be to build them cheaper by a very small amount and the resultant saving would riot affect the rentals" by ! one penny piece ris the cheapness of i the unit would necessitate bridgeting ; for a shorter life period and higher j maintenance. It must be remembered, ; too, that the figures mentioned in the | message from Wellirig'ton were the i averag'e reritAls. Iri soirie instances tEe^ [ ! ; will be higher ririd iri some loWeri td i . yield the averiag'e W® have" st'ruCk,^ } .