STATE HOUSES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22108, 2 June 1937, Page 8

STATE HOUSES

DEMAND EXCEEDS I SUPPLY . RUSH OF APPLICANTS FOp j LEASES ' TENANTS TO BE CHOSEN B* BALLOT j (PRESS ASSOCIATIOB TELEGSAIO WELLINGTON, June 1. The Government's decision to close the list of applicants for houses being erected at Miramar - and Lower Hutt on June 8 was announced to-day by the Parliament, ary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing Construction (Mr J- A. Lee) Mr Lee said hundreds of an* . plications had already been received. Indeed, from the present lists the houses could be filled mare than five times over, and appliestions were pouring in daily. In then circumstances, no good purpose would be served by delaying the closing date, and all applicato not posted by June 8 would be deferred for consideration at a later date. It was inevitable that many applicants would not be successful; said Mr Lee, and he was concerned about finding a method of allocation which would be both satisfactory and equitable. At the same time, it was realised that each State house let to a tenant would help to relieve the present shortage of houses. Applicants Interviewed Steps had already been taken bf the State Advances Corporation to interview applicants and make certain inquiries, and as soon as that action was completed it was proposed to conduct a ballot fox the houses. The successful applicants would then be notified, and the houses, as they were delivered from time to time by the contractors would be made available for ten--2.HCI6S Mr ' Lee said that although the Housing Act was now administered by the State Advances Corporation, it was proposed to make certam amendments in the existing law. The Prime Minister, before his departure, agreed to give Parliament an opportunity of considering there:, moval of certain salary restrictions on the eligibility of tenants for State houses imposed by the present le&sj lation, and for placing on the Mmister for Finance the responsibifitf for determining the amount of the, rentals to be charged for State houses erected subsequent to March 31, 1937. Securing Rent In addition, further statutory provisions would be sought from Parliament for the purpose of facilitate ing the general administration of the houses now being erected by the housing construction and more particularly, in those *»se» where circumstances warranted % for making available money payable to a tenant, either by way of wages or otherwise, as a set-off again* either current rent or any arrears of rent that accrued during the tenancy. Legislation was also to be sought to simplify existing Court procedure in cases of default by an occupier, and for securing vacan| possession of premises. No person in receipt of an income and able to pay rent was going to be allowed to jeopardise the success of the scheme. To-day, because of the lack of the.necessary machinery to deal with the unsocial defaulter, good tenants, who were in the overwhelming majority, had to bear the losses accruing from such unsocial default. Subject to what had been said the State Advances Corporation would continue in control*of State houses, including the collection of rentals and the general management of the properties.