GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1940, Page 3

GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

ACCOMMODATION FOR WORKERS

PROVISIONS OF RURAL HOUSING ACT.

The Government is desirous of assisting farmers to maintain, and where possible, increase production in the difficult times through which the Empire is passing, and the provision of a home for the married farm worker today is undoubtedly of foremost importance in meeting some of the difficulties arising from war conditions, reads a statement issued by the Minister of Housing. Mr H. T. Armstrong, and the Minister of Man Power, Mr D. Wilson.

The Rural Housing Act provides a means whereby this need can be met. This Act enables a county council to finance a farmer at the low rate of interest of 31 per cent. Money is available through county councils for the erection of farm dwellings or the alteration or adaptation of existing dwellings. The council will be protected. as, subject Io safeguarding the rights of existing mortgagees or lessors, it will have a first charge on the property. Payments arc exceptionally easy and can be spread over a period of 15, 20 or 25 years. The small sum of Us 8d per week, covering interest and principal, will repay a loan of £5OO in 25 years. Application should be made through county councils. This will cost nothing as no application fee is payable. The applicant’s own plans and specifications which should provide for reasonable design and workmanship may be submitted or applicants may obtain one of a selected set through the county council at a cost of 10s Gd. The negotiations for the consent of the mortgagee, the registration of the charge, inspection for progress payments, and the administration work will be done by county councils for A per cent of the amount of the loan, which is not required in cash, but may be added to the loan. Thus, on a loan of £5OO the charge would be £2 10s. and this sum is added to the amount of the loan. These are the ordinary provisions of the Rural Housing Act. and they provide worthwhile assistance towards the erection of farm houses. INCENTIVE TO PROMPT ACTION. For the purpose of meeting the urgent position created by the war, the Government has decided to grant a subsidy of 10 per cent in respect of all houses erected under this Act on which operations have been commenced before December 31. 1940. This means that for a loan of £540 a house can be erected costing approximately £6OO. The continued withdrawal of single men from farm work on the land for war purposes will necessitate the employment of married men on farms. If, therefore, advantage is taken of this favourable opportunity for financing the erection of homes, it will be possible to draw on the supply of married men for farm work. Farmers who can offer a position with security of employment and reasonable living conditions for the family, will attract the services of the right type of workers. Special steps are being taken by the Government to ensure that the necessary supplies will be available for the erection of houses under the Rural Housing Act. TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION. There will be some farms where the employment of a married man is necessary under war conditions but where the farm does not justify, on economic grounds, the expenditure necessary lor the erection of permanent married accommodation. Other cases will arise where temporary married accommodation is required pending the erection of permanent quarters. To meet these circumstances arrangements can be made for temporary married accommodation to be made available at a rental of 5s per week. This accommodation will consist of one living room, two bedrooms and a bathroomwashhouse. It will be made available for the duration of the war and one. season thereafter and only upon the State Advances Corporation being first satisfied that accommodation of this type is justified. The accommodation problem may require the provision of one man hutments. These can be supplied. If purchased outright the cost of a new hut will be £4O ex works, payment of which may be arranged by instalments, or if hired the rental will be 2s per week. The huts, which are approximately 10ft by Bft in size, will be lined and provided with an open fire place. Farmers in need of accommodation on their farms for single men, or temporary accommodation for married men. should consult the nearest office of the State Advances Corporation or Placement Officer and obtain full particulars as to how requirements can be met. To further facilitate the transfer of married men to farms the Government is prepared to pay a house allowance of 12s 6d per week to married men taking up farm work while they are required to live away from home. The payment of this allowance in the meantime will enable farmers to make provision for the erection of permanent quarters for the married worker where this course is justified. INEXPERIENCED MEN. To assist in the employment and training of inexperienced men, the Government will also pay an amount of 30s per week for the first six months and 15s per week for the second six months in respect of any inexperienced man of 20 years of age and over, whom farmers employ and train. Farmers will be entitled to receive this payment for any inexperienced man taken by them so long as application is first made through the State Placement Officer or nearest office of the Social Security Department. The actual wages to be paid is a matter for the agreement between the farmer and his employee. The full subsidy will be paid irrespective of the wages paid by the farmer, but the wages must of course be not loss than those provided under the Agricultural Workers’ Act. If farmers arc in need of labour for their farms, they should notify the nearest Placement Officer or branch of the Social Security Department, or if more convenient, tell one of the Field Officers of the State Advances Corporation, Lands and Survey or Agriculture departments, and he will pass the information on to the Placement Officer.