HOUSING SCHEME

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 448, 2 June 1937, Page 3

HOUSING SCHEME

SELECTING TENANTS Hundreds Of Applications Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, June 1. The Government’s decision to close the lists of applicants for houses being erected at Miramar and Lower Hutt on June S was announced by the Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Mr J. A. Lee to-day. Mr Lee said that hundreds of applications had already been received. From the present lists the houses could be filled more than five times over, said Mr Lee, and applications were pouring in daily. In those circumstances no good purpose would be served by delaying the closing date, and all applications not. posted by June 8 would be deferred for consideration at a later date.

It was inevitable that many applicants would not be successful, and he Vas concerned about finding a method of allocation which would be both satisfactory and equitable. At the same time it was realised that each State house let to a tenant would ease the present shortage of houses. Applicants Interviewed. Steps had already been taken by the State Advances Corporation to interview applicants and make certain inquiries, and as soon as that action was completed it was proposed to conduct a ballot for houses. The successful applicants would then be notified. and the houses, as they were delivered from time to time by the contractors, would be made available for tenancies.

It was pointed out by Mr Lee although the Housing Act was now administered by the State Advances Corporation it was proposed to make

certain amendments in the existing law. The Prime Minister, Mr M. J. Savage,- before his departure agreed to# give Parliament an opportunity of considering the removal of certain salary restrictions on the eligibility of tenants for State houses imposed by the present legislation and placing on the Minister of Finance the responsibility for determining the amount of the rentals to be charged for State houses erected subsequent to March 31, 1937. General Administration. In addition further statutory provisions would be sought from Parliament for the purpose of facilitating the general administration of the houses now being erected by the housing construction branch and, more particularly in those cases where circumstances warranted it, for the making available of moneys payable to a tenant, either by way of wages or otherwise, as a set off against either current rent or any arrears of • rent that accrued during the tenancy, for simplication of the existing court procedure in cases of default by an occupier and for securing the vacant possession of premises. No person in receipt of income and able to pay rent was going to be allowed to jeopardise the success of , the scheme to-day because -of lack of the netessary machinery to deal with the unsocial defaulted, said Mr Lee. Good tenants, who were in an overwhelming majority, had to bear losses ? accruing from such unsocial default. Subject to what had been isaid, the States Advances Corporation would continue in control flf State houses, including the collection of rentals and the general management of the pro- . perties.