Learning Something About House Building

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 26, 1 February 1937, Page 6

Learning Something About House Building

GOVERNMENT DISCOVERS NEW FEATURE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. It is anticipated that tenders will be .ailed for the building of Government Louses at Orukci about February 9. This information was given by Air. J. A. Lee, ALP.. Parliamentary Under-Socre-tary to the Prime Minister, on Saturday. Whilo the Orakei tenders were being received, a scheme for the building of houses on the Casey estate ought to be ready for tendering. “Once wo start on Orakei there should bo no further delays,” remarked Mr. Lee. “One thing has been discovered,” he added, “and thut is that tho cheapest rental house does not necessarily mean the cheapest house to construct. It has been found that houses can bo constructed at a very moderate capital expenditure, but these houses would be more expensive to rent because their life period is exceedingly short and their capital cost has to tie recouped in a very short period. On the contrary, an extra £IOO spent in constructing a house soundly, gives such an extension to tho life period of the house that tho rental to be charged is substantially reduced.”

Air. Lee was not prepared to discuss prices in respect of contracts recently let, but he said prices were such that he could stifte confidently that the rentals of Government houses would be well under tho ruling Tates.