SOUTH ISLAND HOUSING

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26856, 8 October 1952, Page 10

SOUTH ISLAND HOUSING

ALLOCATION OF IMPORTS

MINISTER’S REPLY TQ LOCAL BODIES (From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, October 7. "At the time the decision was made to erect imported houses in the North Island it was realised that it would cause disappointment in the South Island, but this course was decided because it was found that building costs in the South Island were considerably lower and that the cost of ordinary State houses in the- North Island was much nearer to the cost of the imported houses,” said the Minister in Charge of Housing (Mr W. S. Goosman) in a letter read .tonight to the executive of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, which is holding its annual conference in Timaru. The Minister was replying to the association’s protest at the allocation of imported houses to the North Island only. “It was also considered that additional contracts for State houses could more readily be let in the South Island, which offset in part the disadvantage of the non-allocation of imported houses,” said Mr Goosman. “Last year more State houses were erected in Christchurch than in Wellington, and so far this year nearly twice as many contracts for State rental houses have been let for Christchurch than for Wellington. I can assure you that the housing needs for the South Island are not being overlooked.” Mr H. S. Feast (Christchurch): Does that include Lower Hutt? There’s no more room in Wellington. Sir Ernest Andrews (ChristchurchV who seconded a motion thanking the Minister for his information, said he did not think it was a satisfactory re-, ply. The South Island was not getting nearly enough houses. He suggested that Mr Goosman be approached again. It was also suggested that Mr Goodman be asked if the Hutt Valiev was included in the Wellington figures mentioned i$ the-letter. The executive! adopted the two proposals.