BUILDING SUBSIDIES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 114, 25 February 1936, Page 3

BUILDING SUBSIDIES.

LIMITATION IN VALUES. DWELLINGS UNDER £750. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, February 24. Subsidies are to continue available in approved cases under the existing rules in respect oi new dwellings invoicing a total contract price not exceeding £760, but all other building subsidies hitherto granted from the unemployment fund are to be abolished. This information was given in the following statement issued to-night by the Hon. H. T Armstrong (Minister for Labour): “The Cabinet has decided that the scheme under which subsidies have been granted from the unemployment fund nr respect of the renovation and alteration of private dwellings will cease forthwith, and no new applications will be received. The scheme was brought into operation by the previous Government on April 1, 1935. In accordance with the Government’s policy of assisting workers to secure thenown homes, the subsidy scheme in respect of the erection of new d\\ cllings will be letuiued in the meantime, but the subsidy will be restricted to dwellings involving a total contract price of not more than £760. Applications already submitted under either of the schemes mentioned will be dealt with on their merits and under the rules existing hitherto. “To avoid hardship, consideration will be given to applications by persons who, in anticipation of receiving the subsidy, have actually incurred a definite financial commitment. It will be a condition in such cases, however, that the application shall have been received by the local certifying officer not later than Monday next, March 2.” Questioned on the point, the Minister stag'd that where local bodies contemplated any comprehensive housing plan, but were restrained from g:\ing effect to it because of restricted finance, he would be very pleased sympathetically to consider requests for reasonable assistance.