Dwellings Under the Housing Act, 1919.

Progress, Volume XV, Issue 4, 1 December 1919, Page 663

Dwellings Under the Housing Act, 1919.

By the courtesy of the Labour Department we are able .to publish the plans of the two houses the Department’ considers the most economical. These designs (Nos. 24 and 25) are intended for erection in concrete, brick, or any other permanent material, though they can also be built of wood. If the applicant desires some other design he may apply accordingly to the nearest Departmental officer, stating the

reasons for his request,, and forwarding a plan or sketch. His application will be considered by the Board. The cost of the dwelling and section must not exceed £775 in wood, or £BSO in any other material. Some misapprehension appears to exist as to the difference between the provisions of Part I of the Housing Act (formerly the Workers’ Dwelling Act) and the Advances to Workers Provisions of the State Advances Act. The latter provisions enable a worker” (as defined in that Act) who wishes to erect a dwelling for himself to obtain a loan for the purpose. The amount of loan must not now exceed £750 (hitherto £450) nor three-fourths of the total value of the land and the dwelling. Under the Housing Act the “worker” may apply for a dwelling to be provided for him, and the amount of deposit required from him is only £10; but the dwell-

Details and Plans of the Houses proposed to be Erected by Applicants under the Act of 1919.

ing must be on land set apart or purchased by the Government from time to time for the purpose of dwellings. For this purpose, however, the Housing Branch of the Labour Department will consider the purchase of any suitable section owned by or offered to an applicant. In special cases, too (see par. 25) the Department will purchase a house already erected for an applicant. Full particulars, forms, etc.,

regarding loans under the Advances to Workers provisions may be obtained from the Superintendent, State Advances Office, Wellington, or from any Postmaster in the Dominion, and particulars, forms, etc., concerning the Homing Act from the various offices of the Department of Labour. Part I.— Workers’ Dwellings. , The provisions of Part I. of the Act are intended primarily to apply to workers with the limited income of £3OO who do not possess sections of their own. For these persons the Department will itself purchase the land required and erect dwellings thereon. For any person who already owns a section the State Advances Act also makes provision. Any person who already owns a section but who cannot obtain a sufficient loan , from the State Advances Office may apply to the Department of

Labour for the benefits prescribed by Part I. of the Housing Act, and if the section owned by him is suitable the Department will, under certain circumstances, take it over./ from the applicant and build a dwelling thereon. In such a case the section would be accepted as security instead of the £lO deposit.

Payment of Purchase Money, The purchase money (less the deposit of £10) is payable in instalments not exceeding 30 years if built in wood, and 36£ years in any other material, at a net charge of only 4| per cent, plus rates and

insurance, the weekly payment being £1 2s. 6d. for a wooden house, and £1 Is. Bd. for a house in any other material. The purchaser must keep house in repair. Houses Already Erected. In order to assist any worker who may be unable to obtain a sufficient advance from the Advances to Workers Branch of the State Advances Office, the Housing Board will in special cases be prepared on application to purchase a dwelling already erected, and then to enter into an agreement for the sale of that dwelling to the worker in the same way as if the Board bad erected the dwelling. The limitation in the price and the necessary qualifications to obtain such a dwelling are the same as if the dwelling ere erected by the Department.

Part ll. — Special Settlements for Public Servants. ' Provision is made in Part 11. of the Act for the establishment of special settlements for Public Servants. Any incorporated society of officers in the permanent employment of the Crown may apply to the Minister in Charge, of this part of the Act for the approval of a scheme for the formation of such a settlement. Except in regard to the rate of interest, and the period of repayment of loans, etc., the Act does not lay down any conditions upon which such a settlement may be established, leaving such matters to arrangement between the society and the Minister. For example, the scheme may either propose the sale of the dwellings to the members of the

society, or it may provide that the settlement shall belong to the society and that the dwellings shall be leased by it to the proposed occupants. The scheme may also .include such proposals as may be desired for the general control and development of the settlement.. Part lll.—Loans to Employers for Workers’ - ■ Dwellings. The Governor-General may at any time publish a notice in the Gazette that this part of the Housing Act shall apply to any named industry, and thereupon any employer in that industry may apply to the Minister of Finance for financial' assistance towards the provision of dwelling-houses for any workers permanently employed by him in connection with that industry. Any person who desires

extension of this part of the Act to any industry should apply to the Minister. Part IV.— Erection of Workers’ Dwellings by Harbour Boards. ' ' Under this part of the Act any Harbour Board is now empowered to erect dwellings for workers in its employment on any land owned by the Board and not held in trust for any special purpose. Any Harbour Board worker who desires further information under this head should apply to the Harbour Board. Part V. refers to the erection of workers’ dwellings by other Local Authorities, and Part VI. to Advances to Workers under' the State Advances Act

1913, information regarding which may be obtained from the State Advances Offices, "Wellington. Part Vll. —Restriction on Increase of Rent. The War Legislation that fixes the maximum rent of dwellinghouses and restricts the right of a land-

lord to eject a tenant, has been further extended by giving a magistrate power to refuse to make an order of ejectment if he is'of opinion that undue hardship would be caused to the tenant were such an order made.