HOUSING PROBLEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9658, 15 July 1919, Page 5

HOUSING PROBLEM.

COUNCIL AND SHORTAGE.

At the Council meeting last evening Cr. Fernman suggested that about six or the Council's ■reserves'should be selected, and neuge a planted of holly or some other suitable hedge plants with a view of their being unproved before oenig taken up later lor building purposes. , ■ ' (Jr. Ferriman's suggestion led Cr. Osman to introduce the question of the snortage of houses in Asnourton at the present time, ne said there were dozens or peopio looking for houses at the present tnno, and in tact, ho would be wanting one himself very shortly. The shortage was preventing people coming into tno town, ana people were leaving. He had been trying to get a man, uut the latter would not come to Asutmrton on account of not being aoie to get a house. He considered the Council should till up its sections and get them reaoy tor peopio wishing to build. tie considered if the sections we're levelled olf there would foe more inquiry for them. The Council might also take into consideration th 6 matter of setting up a committee to report on the housing question, and he would move m that direction. , He suggested that the Council might build six houses for a start, of, auout hve rooms each. JLt should be possible to do this and the houses pay for themselves later. ■ '■

Or. Miiiier asked whether the house shortage was more acute, now than about 20 years ago. Ci\ Ferrimau said the position had varied a good deal, due to people selling and changing about. The houses were scarce at present. People were wanting larger houses and shifting about. It was a wide question whether the Council could put up houses to bring in reasonable revenue for the money expended. The • Government provided very easy terms at present for workers to build. By paying £10 down the Government would find all the money necessary to build. He did not think the Council should go in opposition to the Government if the people could get these advances to build. Cr. Usman: "Too much red tape."

Cr.Ferriman said there was no red tape about it. Tho Council had also agreed on a policy, of liberality in regard to its reserves in order to induce soldiers to build by making them 50 per cent concessions in the rents. If people would only go to the Post Office they would get the pamphlet giving all the information how to go to work to get a house built. Cr. Watson said that in order that the matter could bo settled, he would support Cr. Osman's motion. He*, was satisfied the Council would lose no money in erecting buildings, but how to get the money was another matter. The Council would- require a loan of about £10,000. It would, require about £750 to erect each house, and the rent would, have to be about £50 per annum or £1 a week. In order to pay £1 per week rent a man would require to receive about £4 per week wages.He ■considered tho whole matter was difficult to handle.

' Cr. McElrea said in the past the whole business had been left to people interested in that particular line; They had carpenters in the town who were willing to make liberal terms to people who wanted to build. ' They also had the Government to look to for money 'and the Building Society. So the money. question could not be the trouble. He knew of a person who wanted to deposit money with the Building Society, and the latter informed him that it had more money on hand, than' it was in a position to invest; In fact, the Society felt cut up at having so much money on hand. He considered a correspondent in the "Guardian" had made a sensible suggestion when he suggested that those who wanted houses should get together and talk the matter over, and place some data before the Council. * If this suggestion were adopted, the Council could then deal with the matter. Personally, he admitted he was bogged when it came to tho housing question. He feared that if the price of building material came down, and the Council in the meantime had erected the houses, it might get cut out by the speculator. He considered the rental of the reserves should be made as low as possible to encourage people to build. Cr. Ferrmian said the other day a local financial agent arranged for a client to purchase a house on payment of a £15 deposit. Cr. Kerr said he had no objection to, a committee being' sot up to go into this matter. He, however, could not see- how the Council could go in for building houses. He maintained that the rents of the reserves should be reduced to bedrock. The revenue lost through the reserves not being built on amounted to hundreds of pounds per annum. Moneyed men were- keeping clear of building houses at tho present time. Ho feared that they would not find many men willing to sell houses at the present time for £15 deposit. Matters were different now to what they were four or five years ago. Cr; Watt said the whole question was whether the Borough was willing to undertake the! erection of the houses. The Council would be bound to see that the ratepayers got some quid pro quo for the money invested. He maintained they could not do this without a direct loss. They would have to take into consideration the losa in depreciation over a period of say 20 years, when the house would be worth very little. Cr. HilUer said he did uot think this was a matter for the Council to deal, with, as they would be only laying up no end of trouble. The Mayor referred to the article published by the Mayor of Riecarton, where he proposed, that the Government 'should raißQ £2,000,000. free of interest and advance it'.*o tne cities and boroughs for building purposes. The scheme 1 involved an "increased duty on tobacco to find, the money. Personally he considered i£ would be no use building houses to let to working men unless they could be let at 15s per week At the rate charged for material at present, it would cost £800 or £900 for a' house, and the Council would want about 8 per cent., which would mean £72 per year, which no workman could pay. It would require some scheme like that suggested by the Mayor of Riccarton before they could build. However, he would like to seethe committee bring down a report. Cr Ferriman said' standardised houses had been built in Dunedin and were standing empty when the people could get others to live in. The Mayor said that would not happen here, as the reserves were well scattered about, and two houses of the same design would not be together. It was then decided that the Reserve Committee submit a report on the housing question.