THE HOUSE HUNGER.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 August 1919, Page 7

THE HOUSE HUNGER.

AND COMPLICATI'Oi\*S. ‘TIMBER SHOVRTAGE TOSSEIBLE. The. present keen demand for houses presents some amusing features. A man sells his house at what. he eonsiders a good figure. He imfiiediately commences to look for another, and, after much difiiculty , finds one that suits him. Then the man from whom he buys has to get another house, -and the business goes on like an endless chain ‘till one of those who sell either go into a flat" or leave the city, when the continuity of the chain is broken. This business of an endless chain, however, frequently leads to complicaitons. HA7) buys from MB’)! (KB); buys from “C,” and the latter again buys from “D.” The man who bought from “A” wants to take possession in a month, therefore “A” has to get possession from “B” within that period. «and “B,“ before he can move out, llas to get “=C”ou't. In- the end it becomes a Weird tangle, the out-

standing feature of which is the possibility of someone finding themselves without house or home for a week or more. Yet another difficulty has presen't'ed itself during the past week or two, and bids fair to become more acute at an early date. Though not agreat deal -of building islgoing on, there is still a.litt.le. Houses are ‘to be seen in course of erection in various parts of the suburbs. The restricted railway service is likely, ‘vowever. ‘to seriously handicap builders in that

they will shortly find a difl’lcul»t.y in procuring timber «as suppliesonhand must inevitably ruulow sooner or later As a matter of fact the Kauri Tim-

1301' Company is endeavouring: to meet : Hm d’fficnlty by bringing timber from tho Vvost Coast" by boat, providing the Beard of Tmde will sianction the Slight additional cost .being charg-ed wllon_ the timber is so]E{.. If some arrangement of this kind is not made it will;

only be a. very short time before the ,position becomes serious. -Imand for dairy farms, and property is changing hands rapidly in a unmber of places. In the Haunaki Plains, ‘Hamilton, Te Aroha, Pukekohe, and the demand appears to be particularly keen. Whether the fact -that properties are changing hands to such an extent is in the best interests of the country is a debatable point. Practilcame 01l arce lgfl ay -the mtc Practical -men -express the opinion that is is not conducive to good farming, and that 'i?T"ifna.ny "cases men are. buying not T 0 farm and develop the land, but for speculative purposes, and that in come d'istricts there is a tendency to inflated volucs in consequence, An area of\ 120 acres in the West Tamaki district was recently sold for £20,000, and another farm of 220 acres at Panmure for £28,000, while 400 acres at Papatoetoc changed hualnds at £38,000. *