HOUSES & INCOMES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 5, 29 September 1937, Page 6

HOUSES & INCOMES

Our Own Correspondent.)

Redistribution is Policy of Government RESERVE BANK FINANCE

(From

WELLINGTON, This Day. With money provided by the Reserve Bank the State housing scheme by March 31 next will have expended £1,500,000 and commitments will have been made Ior another £3,000,000. Mr Nash, in presenting his Budget to the House of Representatives last evening, reviewed the Government's aetivities in connection with the housing problem, indicating that the administration's policy was to effect "a more just distribution of the national income, " and that this was linked with the provision of adequate housing facilities. The general improvement in economic . conditions, said Mr Nash, had intensL * fied the demand for houses to euch aa extent that the Government felt justii fied in proceeding as quickly as possible with the erection of houses throughout tho Dominion. The method of relying upon private enterprise was considered inadequate, In order to ensure that the houses should measure up to a.high, standard, both aesthetically aud practi-. cally, said Mr Nash, the following . principles are being adhered to: — (a) In the initial stages the majority of the houses are to he individual uaits. (b) No itwo houses in ahy particular, "^2 are to be ofvthe same desiga. * ' (c) As far as practicable materiale are to be produced and manufactured ia ■ New Zealand. (d) THe quality of construction is to ,be of a high standard, and the internal .facilities are .to. be modern and comIplete. - ' . i ° These houses are not - intended for sale,- as investigations have shown that the housing shortage is . being experienced most acutely by those who f oi various reasons are unable or unwilling to finance the purchase of a property, Every encouragement is being given ta local authorities to undertake siiniiaf housing schemes, and for' this purposf money has been made available at aa interest rate of 3 per cent. per annunt. Contracts for Erection of Housea Up to September 15 last the housing Construc'tion Department had let contracts in 26 different" towns in thf Dominion for 1118 houses. In anticipation of* the early completion of 383 houses in the Wellington district, a ballot was taken, and arrangementa have been made for the tenants ta pnter into possession in the very neai Euture. Houses will shortly be available in the Auckland, Wanganui^ Palmerston North, Christchurch, Dunedin tnd Invercargill distridts, to be followed by further houses in other centrej is completed. In addition to providing a substantial heasure of relief from the housing fhortage, the Government operationa (re at present giving direct full-time imployment to over 1500 skilled .tradeemen and lahourers. The expansion of the aetivities at the. department is limited only by tha shortage of skilled labour/" which ' is ilready becoming a serious problem. Ia the near future ,the building of. hOuses tvill be under way concurrently in over 10 towns. Special measures are in hand to increase the number of tradesmen, ■ and this will not only enable ,the programme to be accelerated, but.. will b«i the means of plaeing a lafge number ofj anemployed in full-time employment. j Expenditure on Housing; j Up to fhe present expenditure" ea1 housing amounts to approximately £250,000, but. there aTe commitments lor land purchased and work started amounting to about £1,250,000. By the "snd of the financial year commitments will probably amount to £3,000,000 and expenditdre to £1,500,000. The money for, the housing- scheme is being provided by the. Reserve Bank. The Government realise the necessity; for improved housing and other accommodation on farms,(and, where it is possible to obtain reasonable security for the sum to be expended, will ar» range for special consideration to facilitate the granting of loans.