HOUSING QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 3

HOUSING QUESTION.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Your , leader on the housing question did not mention one very important item, viz., the cost of houses under unfinancial builders. By the Wages Protection and Contractors' Lien Act. 1908, the owner of a building . must hold 25 per cent of the purchase money in hand for 31 days after completion in order to pay possible liens totalling that amount. The average person does not know this, and, when being pressed for money for progress payment by a builder of no financial standing, is liable to give more than heshould, and afterwards will be compelled to pay the amount given, possibly with costs added to it. To say that "ignorance of the law is no excuse" merely begs the question. Who knows the law thoroughly in any subject? As the law stands at* the present time, timber companies and builders' suppliers will give credit to men of straw, relying upon the ignorance of the person who is building that a lien can be placed upon the land and building without his consent, or indeed, without consulting him. In addition, the builder can draw up to a point and then stop work. So that the man who is building a home is between two sets of trouble. All this added cost and anxiety tend to stop building and add to costs, if the Government is in earnest about solving the housing problem, they\ can make a start with amending what is in practice a most iniquitous Act. —» I am, etc., VICTIM.