ALL FOR RENTING

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 448, 2 June 1937, Page 7

ALL FOR RENTING

HOUSES AT ORAKEI Selection Of Applicants Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, June 2. Applicants for the Government houses now being built at OilJkei are asking many important questions. The most vital, that of the renjts to be charged, was answered a few days ago by the Under-Secretary in charge of the Housing Branch, Mr. J. A Lee, tut other interesting points were cleared up to-day by officers of the Department. Are all the houses to bs let to tenants? This question was answered! in the affirmative. At. present, renting is the policy for Orakei, though it has been officially mentioned that houses for purchase are eventually to be provided under the scheme. Several sizes of houses are planned, from four to six rooms, and in some cases there is a sun porch >as an a'dditionaT feature. Four-roomed houses are to predominate at Orakei to the extent of GO per cent of the total. However, .this ratio is not considered to be a fixed question of policy, for the scheme is elastic, and the numbers of rooms in dwellings will be determined in accordance with the demand for the various sizes. The announcement of the rentals I has produced a further rush of ap- ■ plications for these houses, and it is obvious .that not only in relation to Orakei, but also with the Wellington and other building schemes many hundreds must suffer disappointment. The difficult task of making a selection awaits the Housing Bilinch, and it has not yet decided on the best and fairest method. There may be a combination of selection of the best qualified, followed by a final reduction by a ballot elimination process,, down to a number corresponding witli the houses available. Shopping Facilities. A shopping centre is contemplated for the new settlement.. Tb.s side of 'the scheme has been receiving the City Council’s attention, and [he Housing Branch is prepared to facilitate any municipal plans. It is in a good position to do so, for it owns the shopping sites. Pending proposals from the City Council, the Housing Branch is not ddaling with shopping sites,, for it w'rhes to leave the position open in the meantime. Transport to a.id from t.he city will be a prime necessity, and is under official consideration at present. There is bound to be a. strong demand for this facility, and it will be meTin due course. The existence of a'wage limitation of £6 weekly opeilates at present ns a statutory bar to some classes of applicants, though the Under-Secretary has announced the Government’s in, ttntion of legislating next session to make the position more elastic, , and more in line with ■ rising wages. Though it is premature to suggest definitely the future amount of the wage limit for 'applicants, as .the question is now under consideration, it may ultimately be decided 'to amend the law in such a way that, • any bona-fide worker may be qualified for tenancy of a Stale house. The difficulty of Axing a definite income limit j s shown by the ffict that 20,000 Public Works emplovets averaged 19/7 p er day during la Tecent month. If thj s was wel] niantained throughout the year they would easily Pass the £3OO mark. Statistics regarding the earnings of the coal miners employed in state mines suggest that under the present state of the aw few of them would be entitled o occupy the state houses, although there is an admitted need for improv, ed standard of accommodation in the coalmining districts.