STATE HOUSING SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21906, 6 October 1936, Page 9

STATE HOUSING SCHEME

Progress Reviewed By

Mr J. A. Lee

LOCAL FACTORS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter I WELLINGTON. October 5. The progress which has been made in the preliminary organisation lor the Government’s housing scheme was referred to in an interview to-day by Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Undersecretary in charge of the Ministry for Housing. . . , . ... The houses will be constructed of different materials and will vary in appearance, yet a large amount of construction work in each house is standardised, and this will have a considerable effect on costs, Mr Lee said. Allowance would be made for the necessity of varying designs in different districts. For instance, level section* which were available for the Wellixigton scheme at Hurt would require a different type of house from sloping sections at Orakei. Such local factors as wind velocity, would also be taken into consideration, and the houses to be built would probably be designed so that full advantage could be taken of climatic conditions. The production of materials would be standardised as far as possible, Mr Lee continued, and as hundreds of houses would probably be Luilt at a time, the Government would be in a position to place large orders for cer-» tain classes of building materials, which would have the effect of reducing costs. For instance, there were indications already that the price of bricks could be materially reduced for large orders. Mr Lee mentioned that bricks, which cost about £6 a 1000, were obtainable in England about 25s or 27s 6d a 1000. Mass production methods would probably bring down the New Zealand plica to a marked extent. “We hope to be able to call tenders for some of the individual schemes in * the near future,”- Mr Lee added. “Until then, and until we can get a definite idea of how actual building operations are progressing, no ’ announcement about costs or probable rentals' 1* likely to be made.”

HOMES FOR OLD PEOPLE

PLACE IN GOVERNMENT’S HOUSING SCHEME

PROGRAMME OUTLINED FOR AUCKLAND

(PEESS TELEOBiiE.)

AUCKLAND, October 9

The importance of placing the needs of old-age pensioners in the forefront of the Government’s national housing scheme was emphasised by ‘ speakers at a conference between members of the Legislature and representatives of religious and benevolent organisations, which was held to discuss the need for providing housing accommodation for old-age pensioners in Auckland. A tentative scheme for building houses in blocks was submitted to the conference and a resolution was adopted urging upon the Government the need for giving priority in the national housing scheme to provide suitable accommodation for oM-age pensioners and others in similar circumstances, as they were the worsthoused class in the community. The Hon. F. F. Lark, M.L.C., presided. and among those present were Mr A. G. Osborne, M.P., members of the City Council, representatives of the clergy, and 40 old-age pensioners, belonging to the Old People’s Fellowship. Prime Minister’s Support

Mr Lark said that not very much was wanted to force the recognition .of the rights of old-age pensioners. He could assure those present that old people would have first claim on the attention and work of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). The Government would make every effort to provide housing, and there need be no fear that the old people would be left out. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet, and every member of Parliament would guarantee to do their utmost to see that the old people would be guaranteed shelter for the rest of their lives. - A tentative scheme for a suitable group of houses, which had been submitted to the City Council, was outlined by Mr E. Gill. He said the estimate was,for 24 houses, built in blocks of three houses- with a small plot of ground for each house, separate from a central common garden. A central building, comprising a hall and two common rooms for men and women, was also included. The total cost of building these 24 houses, with the central hall, in permanent material, with three acres of land, in a convenient suburb, would be £18,032. Finances of Scheme Assuming that 24 tenants could pay a rent of 10s a week each, there would be an annual revenue of £624, which would provide £270 as a sinking fund of 1J per cent and £354 as a maintenance and management fund of nearly 2 per cent. “It is evident that such a scheme could not be carried out by an ordinary loan bearing interest” said Mr Gill. “We submit that it is a most suitable use for national credit free of interest, chargeable to the undertaking.”

Mr GUI added that if one block were satisfactory self-supporting, the scheme tould be extended to any limit found possible. :