RAILWAY HOUSE RENTALS

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1931, Page 5

RAILWAY HOUSE RENTALS

ADJUSTMENTS MADE. RETURNS LESS BY 23.1)09. ; ( Jig Telegraph—Per Press Association) ; WELLINGTON, April LI. I lie Minister of R„iiw,iys (tin.* lion, i W- A. \ '-‘iteli) Inis received a reno.t | i nun an officer wlm was deputed to inve a iga je complaints ol e.*;( os.siv o increases in the rentals ol railway dwt'iL i eb’iih* Ihi tln*r cas's him.* to be non'i'h'i'cd. but the rt port is sufficient | v eomplei.e to enable (b ( . position |o be 1 •*i; ly a seer ia i i *« •< I. lb.' modern type ol dwellings built by |he architectural branch total I ami a number of reductions have been made, making the average rental now 17s 4d weeldv. The older railway dwellings total 2190, and complaints hnv« been made regarding lack of conveniences. It lias been decided where there are no lighting or hot water .services (o reduce the rent by Is (id weekly. Special reductions have also been made where other conditions warrant it, and some personal hardship cases have been given concessions, The average rentals of 11 1 ,. older dwellings is now Ns Sd weekly. The general effect of the largo number of reductions is that the gross rentals full short by 2,1.900 of tin* increased return recoin mended bv the Railways Cum mission, The Minister added that although the maintenance charges had dropped from an average of 0s 8d weekly per bouse to os 3d jam. year, be was still not satisfied witti the figures, and lias ordered a special investigation with a view fo ascertaining whether these costs are due to extravagant methods or to flic accountancy system untairly loading the maintenance accounts.