SHANNONS HOUSING SCHEME.

Shannon News, 28 November 1922, Page 3

SHANNONS HOUSING SCHEME.

I DESCRIBED BY CR. HYDE,

j “CANNOT BE EQUALLED IN THE 1 DOMINION.”

Cr. A. E. Hyde forwards the iollo.v--ing letter to the News in regard to the Shannon Borough Council’s houses:— “In view of the facts that there are many among cur citizens who serin to take a delight in making false and foolish statements regarding the cottages being erected by the Borough Council, and thus giving many people a wrong impression, I ask icspare in your valued paper io place the correct particulars before yiur readers. A few irresponsibles who have not even taken the trouble to read the agreement or study the plans and specifications were largely the cause of the first two homes not being sold sooner than they were, and losing for others an opportunity of securing a good home at a price and terms that, it is safe to say, cannot be equalled in the Dominion. The homes are built of the very best of timber, and beautifully finished with frieze and picture rail in all the four rooms. The front room has an open fireplace with splendid cottage grate and opens into a large hall. In the kitchen there are built-in cupboards, and also in the scullery, where hot and cold water are laid to* the sinks, 'with a convenient pantry close by. The copper, bath and tubs have their hot and cold supply of water provided by three large tanks, and the drainage is good, the cesspits being sealed with •oncrete. The; fences, when completed, will consist of good cyclone netting with rails and capping, and a pair of strong gates nicely painted. The dwellings stand on a fraction under a quarter of an acre on some of the most valuable land in the town. The purchase price at £750, with £SO down, is certainly not dear. The interest on the money owing- for the first year works out at about 13/ per week, and 6/ per week is added to pay the house off, and thus every year a person is in the house his interest and rent is getting less, and his home is being paid for at less than the cost of renting a house straight out. And what’s more, if he wants to quit during the first, five years, the Council will consider paying him for any improvements he may have done, and give him the money back he has paid off, less 2£ per cent for depreciation. If anyone who wants a home is not satisfied with this they sure would not be content with the Garden of Eden. The matter of erecting more dwellings will no doubt be considered carefully by the Council should applications be received for them; and I venture to say that there is no housing Scheme with better-advantages of fering in New Zealand to-day. My advice is: “if you want a home, get busy.”

The News certainly thinks the Shannon Borough Council is entitled to credit for having done something practical to satisfy the demand for houses. While many local bodies have been content to talk about the Governmeu’s duly, and to get no further towards the solution of one of the most pressing problems of the day, the local municipal authorities have made a commencement and do not deserve captious criticism. On Cr. Hyde’s showing, the cottages are comfortable and reasonable in price compared with the average cost of housing.