FLATS FOR ELDERLY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 12

FLATS FOR ELDERLY

Local Rodies’ Effort Praised

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 30. Pensioners flats construction was gaining momentum throughout New Zealand now it was generally accepted as a joint responsibility of the Government and local bodies, said the Minister of Housing (Mr Rae) on Saturday. He was opening an attractive cluster of 17 single and four double units built by the One Tree Hill Borough Council. Since the loan and subsidy partnership between central and local government began 12 years ago, he said. £1,615,700 had been made available in subsidies alone and a total of 2176 flats had been built for 2897 pensioners.

Last year, said Mr Rae, local bodies availed themselves of £393.000 in subsidies and £447.000 in 3j per cent, loans from the State Advances Corporation. This was a big increase on the. £160,000 granted in subsidies the previous year.

He said that if Auckland boroughs maintained their present rate of construction "a large hole will be knocked in the problem in the metropolitan area in a short time.”

Mr Rae also praised the efforts of the Christchurch and Wellington city councils.

He said Christchurch had already built more than 400 pensioners flats, had let tenders for 52, and had acquired land for another 40.

Wellington, he said, would build 50 units this year and 100 next year.