CHEAP HOUSES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 June 1923, Page 1

CHEAP HOUSES.

I. AX AMERICAN SCHEME. AUCKLAND, June 20' Particulars of the latest scheme fo obtaining cheap houses in Aucklant ’ have been announced by the. Rev ( j. 11. Grant Cowen, who is actively in . foresting himself in the bousing question. The scheme was put forward b> an American company, said Air Cowen, and provided for the erection of houses from timber cut and fitted in the Unitt t'd States. Best Oregon pine was us- > ed, and the company gave guarantees to carry out the work for the contract price. There was no lack of variety of design in tlte houses thus erected, so that the “terrace” effect, held in such abhorrence in Xew Zealand, would be completely obviated. “There are three quotations under tltis st home,” continued Air Cowen. "The first is for a seven-roomed house costing £575. well lini-liod in every detail. There are seven different designs for this class of house with four designs at a cost of £490. The third in which there are eight designs, would probably be the one to meet Auckland’s not'd. It contains live rooms, bathroom, sanitary conveniences, and complete fittings, and the cost is only £450. Those amounts include tile cost of erection, duty, freight, and labour, varying from £3lO fo rtlie first to £250 for the last-mentioned.” it was explained that the low prices were rendered possible by the fact that the timber was cut and fitted and -cut out from Portland all ready for erection. The scheme was not the one that hail already been tried in Auckland, with but indifferent success, in which the houses were sent out in sections. In all the designs submitted, special provision was made for sections of varying size, some of the plans being suited to allotments with a narrow frontage and more depth. and others with a wider frontage. All the fittings were guaranteed to be'of a serviceable nature and attractive appearance.