"OWN YOUR HOME."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19726, 17 September 1929, Page 12

"OWN YOUR HOME."

A CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED. REAL ESTATE INSTITUTE GIVES A LEAD. Furniture makers and retailers, build- | era, uul those engaged in associated trade* have <n asked by the Canterbury Ileal Estate Institute to assist it In the conduct of an "Own Your Own H«m«» Oampuign'' in October. Last evening a general meeting of all those interested was held, under the auspices of the Institute, Mr C. E. Jones, president of the latter, occupying the chair. The chairman said that about ten diiyt ago a preliminary meeting had been held, and it was felt that a furtlier meeting should take place to give effect to the recommendations then made. It was thought that the trades allied to them would be better represented. Tliu co operation of the newspapers was desired. One idea was to offer prizes for essays on the project for secondary schools, and the newspapers had promised to publish some of theut. Then stickers had been made for use on real estate agents' letters, and they proposed to place on the top uf their advertisements the slogan "Own Your Own Home." People did not seem to-day to realise the benefit of being the owner of the houses they lived in. It would be said that the land agents were carrying out this campaign for their own aggrandisement, but they felt they could rise above this, and it should be iyudo <t matter of eitiaenship. It was proposed to enlist the aid of the Mayor, and a great psychological effect could be obtained by a campaign, People to day seemed to be nomads, failing to realise that if they owned u little real estate they had something solid behind them. Already £l5O was in sight, and it was proposed to couduot the propaganda in October. The rates had not gone up to such an extraordinary degree, and there were more reductions than increases. Whatever their attitude might be to the Mayor, there could be no doubt he •was consistent, and out for a beautiful City. If people wanted a fine town, With all the conveniences desirable, they would have to pay for them. Cheap money was the greatest boon New Zealand ever had, and Mr 11. D. Aeland was not saying what was true, when he ■aid that money at 10 per cent, was in the interests of the community. When money was dear it was scarce, and it was rubbish to say that dear money was a desirable thing. Such statements should not be mado. When a Council was criticised consistency should bo observed, and the broad view should be taken. Land agents were just as sound as any public men in their views. People spont more money on their own homes than on tjioae they rented. The Institute hoped that the furnishers and others would follow up its campaign with slogans such as ' • Beautify your own home. *' Co operation Promised. Mr a. P. Myers, representing the IM.C., said his firm would co-operate in the campaign, both in window-dressing and in advertising- The sticker idea Struck him as a good one. Mr H. W. lle.ilop said the undertaking was a nations! one, and they should get a statement from the Prima Minister. It would be u sorry day for the country when the people became a nation of flat dwellers and motor-car proprietors. People did not even bother about having a family to-day, and many bought their food ready eooked. Selfishness was rampant., and people, by buying motor cars before buying a home, were starting at tho wrong end. The Auckland Institute was watching closely what they were doing, for more people were duelling in flats there than was the ease here. They should get help from any quarter possible. In America a campaign such as they were planning was curried out every year, and a very broad view was taken. He advocated a campaign on the screens in tho picture theatres, and in display Vindowa, and he had a great deal of faith in the essay competition. Mr Jo net, said the annual conference of the New Zealand Real Estate Institute would be held in Wellington on October 21tli aud 25th, and they should kave their campaign before that. Mr 11. O. Livingstone said it was not I land agents* benefit, but something of national importance. In many cases motor-cars were used only as luxuries, and with this development trades had gone back, causing unemployment. The latter evil was largely caused by people buying what they did not need. Good citizenship depended largely on the ownership of property. If a man had no stake in the country,, his interest in social matters was negligible. He did not know when he was going to move, and as a citiien he was an inferior being. Local storekeepers, bakers, and other tradesmen preferred dealing with a man who had a title to his property than with a tenant. A man who was renting took little interest in a garden, while an owner was always looking for opportunities to improve his home. The psychological effect of such a campaign would be very appreciable, and w.ould be well worth the money they put into it. They should ask all Associations interested sud not represented to co-operate.

Conservative Values. Mr E. Brimms said be had sold •early 70 houses in the past two years, and he found that if people could get terms they would buy. People wanted finance made easier, and land agents should not be so conservative in their valves. "Let us do away with that •etond mortgage business," he said. A voice: Should a builder be a land agentf Mr B. M. 6p«ir* Mid be supposed the campaign was being launched because there was a falling <>(T in the market for the sale of residential properties. People were seeuriaif their own homes in rough the Statu and the City Coun eil, and the great problem to-day for people »ras bow they were going to buy the houses they lived in. The land agents should have at their command a large sum of money which should make Jlitancing easier. The decline in the demand for housei already built through the land agents was caused by the operations of those who were building houses and selling them on terms. There would be a great deal more business done by land agents in the City if the builder did not thrust such a big fro lit on the shoulders of the purchaser, f the builder was satisfied with a •mailer profit, the campaign would be greatly assisted. Mr lleslop said Mr Speirt was on the wrong track, as any builder would •ell a man a house if he would put down a deposit of £SO. In over 20 years' experience he had known the ease of only one house being sold reverting to the owner. That day he had heard of a house reverting to a builder because the purchaser preferred that to loi#ik hit <*ar, when he could not keep up payments of 32s 6d a week. The way is perfectly easy for a man to buy his home if he wanted to, but people were not putting first things Arst If mcu only wunt the right way

about it, they could make themselves quite comfortable. They need not worry abont what the municipality was doing. Mr Brimms said that working people could buy a house at a rate of 27s fid a week, if they could get these terms. Mr G. T. Robinson said people getting married now thought just of getting a flat, being able to go to the cabaret on Saturday night, buying a car, and renting a garage. The proposal of the executive of the Institute was given the fullest support by a resolution passed, and it was agreed to enlist the assistance of all interested trades. The motion was moved by Mr Livingstone and seconded by Mr Brimms. The matter of giving effect to the motion was left to the executive.