RENT OF STATE HOUSES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 451, 19 June 1937, Page 5

RENT OF STATE HOUSES

“Private Builders Heaved Sigh Of Relief”

Press Association —Copyright. Wellington, June 19,

The statement that a feeling of relief had come over private investors in house properties when the Government announced the rentals' to be charged for .the new State houses was made yesterday by Mr Arfhur Seed, secretary of the Dominion Federated Sawmillers’ Association. He said that when the Government’s, housing plans were first put before the public, home-building land investment in houses by private persons showed an immediate falling off. Ac"

tivity was beginning to become apparent again now that the Government had made known the rents its prospective tenants would be required !-o pcy. Soon after the inception of the scheme, said Mr Seed, there had been a marked decline in the demand for timber on the part of private builders. This lull was a direct reflection of the uncertainty and hesitation caused in the minds of the usual investors in house property. They adopted a policy of holding off io see what, effect the Government’s building plans would have on properly values. The general impression seemed to be that the State houses were to be made available to tenants at some ridiculously low and economic rental. However, since the announcement of the rentals by .'the Acting-Prims Minister, Hon. P. Fraser, the average investor in house property appeared to have heaved a sigh of relief and There were now’ signs that private building was beginning to awaken from its temporary somnolence.