Workers’ Pride in New Homes

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 55, 27 May 1927, Page 3

Workers’ Pride in New Homes

HUTT VALLEY SUCCESS “FINE COMMUNITY SPIRIT” (From Our Resident Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. workers' housing scheme in the Hutt Valley was to-day described by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. •I. G. Coates, as the finest example of community spirit he had had the pleasure of being associated with. It was obvious from the spirit developed within the settlement, and the pride displayed by the occupants in improving their homes and surroundings, that the scheme was appreciated by the successful applicants for houses. Applications in now totalled SOO and were still pouring in. The department was careful in granting the exceptionally favourable conditions, and each case was examined carefully. Most of the people qualified under one or more of the following heads: Living with young family in insanitary conditions. Living in overcrowded conditions. Notice from court to vacate house. Exorbitant rent and small wage The Government originally decided to finance the construction of 150 houses, but the applications were so numerous, and in many cases indicated rather alarming overcrowding in certain areas, that authority was given for a further 100, making 250 in all. The committee, however, continued to receive large numbers of applications, and so many urgent cases were continually coming under notice that Cabinet quite recently decided to increase the total to 300 houses. So far 123 houses have been finished and occupied.

Deposits paid range from 6s 6d up to £IOO. They average £25. With a deposit of this amount the approximate payment per week, covering interest, repayment, rates and insurance is £1 5s 6d. Most of these families are in receipt of only between £4 and £5 a week, and with three, four and five children, they would not have managed to save sufficient to take advantage of the present 95 per cent. State Advances scheme, with the result that they would always be househunting. The price for places on Mandel's block is £905, and in the Eglington block £915.