SOME OPINIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 9

SOME OPINIONS.

AM PRICES TOO HIGH ? BEYOND THE REACH OF MANY. "I» our little garden suburb, away from all the noise and hubbub," runs a popular song, and it no doubt expresses the thoughts of some of the purchasers of sections who arc already contemplating life in the model suburb of Orakei". "We have been looking forward tothis for years," said one of the buyers this morning, "and we do not intend losing any time in building. The fact having water and drainage already available and the promise of electric power means that the new owners may live at Orakei just as soon as their homes are available. From the feel of things, it looks as though a good class °f_ house will be erected." As to the prices realised at the sale, the budding wakeite said that the prico per foot ,vu * j l| *t about what he and others had exacted for the choicest sections, y J!] 8 P r ' ces were altogether too J 1 !?,'" was the version of a disappointed •iduer. "It was easy to see at the sale . light," he added, "that a large sec'°n of those present were not intending uyors. They actually applauded those paid the highest prices. I noticed wo °r three times that more sensible " era started off with low offers, apparently lower than the reserves, in r «er to show that there were those.who ! £ P ec £® < * the prices to be more reasonOno or two of them even called out • reminder that the sections were origi®ly intended to Ik; for workers. Both e resencs and the prices paid, liowjer, W ere far too high for people of ordinary means." _ (""tinissiouer for Crown Lands * '• 0. N. ( nmphcll) and the chief clerk J® 8 " 1( l tll e sections (Mr. David Smith) th'.'i 1 t ' le Sil ' |V f»Uy come up to t' :r ex l'ectationß. They are especially P'Oase. because the element of specula-' m??i not entpr i n > an£ l because the Imiij aßer3, a f > P ear be people who will ■tj"J * P 00( l class of homes. "I do not il'il /' lat P" r( '' lase| 'B of the more ~, 'rout, seciions are I>v anv means. •-•uistH." _. lM tI ,„ .. alI(1 , " lrV C -111. II !•;• '. •> I.(V •; . d

a few weeks hence." The prices realised factory 1 * cona ( idered as highly satisAs Labour Sees It. "1 suppose the way to look at the matter," said Mr. T. Bloodworth to a pressman, 'is that the sections are the property of the people/ and that we should be pleased with the price* they are bringing." Tho labour union- secretary added that the idea of a working men's suburb at Orakei which existed some few years ago had been entirely changed since the harbour-front road was projected. That and the high cost of tho layout by the Government had put the coat of the sections beyond the reach of the workers, at least of the 2/6 an hour workers. "When there was talk of the workers' suburb," said Mr Blood worth, "some of us had thoughts of buying a section or two for a branch of the Trades Hall, but," he added with a twinkle, we have not been down to choose any sections." Mr. H. E. Vaile, an authority on land values, expressed the opinion to an interviewer that it was "a fair and reasonable sale." He said that sections which had sold at £15 and £16 per foot were by no means beyond the range of values which prevailed in other parts of Auckland. "Orakei is nearer the city than Victoria Avenue," he remarked, "and people think nothing of giving £15 and £20 per foot for sections there." Mr. Vaile commented on the fine views which were obtainable from the best of the Orakei sections, and said that the prices realised were much as experts had predicted. "The general conditions in Auckland with regard to properties," he added, "are not a a bad as some people would make out. There is plenty of money for investment, and it only needs to find an outlet."