TOO EXPENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 1917, Page 7

TOO EXPENSIVE.

BUILDING WORKERS' DWELLINGS.

Workers' dwellings erected during tho year ended March 31, 1017, numbered 05, of which 37 were in course of erection on March 31, 1910. Owing to the largely-increased cost of building material, states the annual report of the Depu-ty-Superintendent, and the difficulty experienced in obtaining tenders at a reasonable figure, it waß found necessary to considerably curtail the programme which was laid down at the beginning of the year; in many instances tho ten° dcrs received were bo high as to be quito prohibitive, and it was deemed unwise in the interests of the applicants themselves to accept them and erect dwellings. Whereas two or three years ago a fourroomed dwelling ■in wood' cost about £3BO and a fire-roomed dwelling about £450, the cost of similar houses at the present time would bo about £460 and £9BO respectively; consequently only 2S dwellings were erected instead of 100, as arranged for in the original programme. Since March 31, 1017 (in addition to eleven houses in course of erection at that date) arrangements have [been made for the erection of twelve more dwellings. Of these, three are for Wellington (Petone), three for Masterton, four for New Plymouth, and two for Patea. There is still a. large demand for workers' dwellings, especially in the Wellington district. The Board will, however, as in the past, exercise care, and only build when the cost is reasonable. A dwelling was purchased at Kilbirnie, Wellington, which was chosen by an approved applicant and inspected by an officer of the Department, who reported that it was suitable for a worker's dwelling. During tho year four sections of land not required for workersdwellings have been disposed of. An inspection of workers' dwellings. showed that, with very few exceptions, occupants were taking interest and pride in their sections and houses. A statement regarding the arears in rent since the Department has taken over the collection, shows 'the average arrears per dwelling were:—l9ls, £2 lis 8d; 1916, £2 5s 3d; 1017, £1 12a 6d.