HOUSES BY THE THOUSAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1922, Page 9

HOUSES BY THE THOUSAND.

FOUR ROOMS FOR £2OO. JOURNALIST KNIGHT IN AUCKLAND. A leaf might well be taken out of Australia’s book in regard to the manner in which 'tih<? Commonwealth ls encouraging immigrants, if one may judge from what Sir W. Beach Thoma’., the well-known war correspondent, has observed during a four-months’ extensive tour in Australia. Sir Beach Thomas intended to spend two months in New Zealand studying various aspects of life in the. Dominion, but, unfortunately, the death of his chief, Lord Northcliffc, necessitates his return to England at an early date. He arrived in Auckland last week by the Niagara, and will ‘be unable to spend more than a week or ten days in New Zealand. In conversation with a, Star representative, Sir Beach Thomas said Western Australia was the place that had appealed to him. It was a wonderful country, with an ideal climate, and there was room there for millions of people. “They are going along verjr fast and taking immigrants at a tremendous pace there,’ - he added. He had. seen an order for 1,000 houses go out from the Premier in Western Australia, and they would all be erected in a month or two. These four-roomed houses were being built for the sum of £2OO. “Of course,” added Sir Beach Thomas, “they are only made of wood.” Naturally he did not ..now of the extraordinary disparity of this price and. those prevailing in New Zealand. He quoted an instance where a school-house, to accomodate fifty children, was built at a total cost of £5O, including wages. He had been impressed by that incident. Another pleasing feature was the fact that the Government specially encouraged families, as distinct from individuals, to come out to Australia, and made arrangements for them accordingly. These people were placed on uncleared land in groups of twenty under an Australian manager. The workers were paid wages ’by the Government until the farms were cleared. Then when the farms were workable the immigrants gradually paid up the .purchase price, which consisted only of the amount of money paid in wages by the Government. The immigrants were delighted with their new life and with all its prospects. Under such a system, said Sir Beach Thomas, the State could not suffer oven where an immigrant failed to fulfil his part, ‘because the land was already being improved. Referring to Now Zealand, the visitor said he hoped to see as much as possible of the Dominion in the short time at his disposal. When he set out on his two years’ tour he received only one recommendation from Lord Northcliffc, and it was this: “You must be in New Zealand when the fishing is on.” Accordingly he was glad he had arrived at an opportune time for a little sport.