STATE HOUSING

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21204, 29 August 1940, Page 8

STATE HOUSING

SCOPE OF EXPENDITURE CONSTRUCTION OF STREETS MINISTER ANSWERS CRITICS (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Housing Amendment Bill, which was introduced by the Hon. H. T. Armstrong in the House of Representatives to-day and passed tonight, extends the purposes for which money in the Housing account may be used. The Bill authorises the expenditure of housing money on the construction and maintenance of streets providing access to housing blocks, cn terms to be agreed upon between the State Advances Board and the local authority concerned. Money may be spent also on the construction, alteration or repair of garages or flood protection works, and land may also be acquired for access to housing blocks. Another clause in the Bill authorises local authorities to consent to streets being less than 66ft. wide, but not less than 40ft., in cases where land is required to provide access to housing schemes. The last clause validates anything done in anticipation of the passing of the Bill. Payment of Rates Replying to a question, Mr Armstrong said the department paid rates on housing properties as soon as the house was occupied. No Government department had ever paid rates before, and it was a fact that the Housing Department was still not legally bound to pay rates, although it would mean a serious loss to certain local bodies if it did not do so. Mr W. S. Goosman (Opposition— Waikato): Do you pay special as well as general rates? Minister: Yes, we pay all rates.

“What strikes me most about the . Bill is its encroachment on the functions of local bodies,” said Mr A. E. Jull (Opposition—Waipawa). “Surely j the Minister could have referred it to ' the Municipal Association for its j comments on certain aspects.” Mr Jull said he wished to draw the Minister’s attention to the fact that the whole of the activities of the department were centred in the towns and cities. He claimed that no consideration was given to workers in the country districts who had no opportunity of getting homes under the Housing Act. In Country Districts The Minister replied that building was already extended to small towns and houses were being built in 127 centres. The country districts had the same chance as other districts. Replying to complaints that persons on small incomes could not obtain houses, he said that in applying for a State house a man on a high income was handicapped because of that fact. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton: What is the average cost of your houses? Mr Armstrong: A decent fiveroomed house costs roughly £llOO. ! I | I ; j j | i j : j : 1 .