Delays Over Housing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32344, 9 July 1970, Page 28

Delays Over Housing

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 8. The amount of finance made available in New Zealand for pensioner housing is infinitesimal in relation to the national income, but in no area of Government expenditure could a little generosity show greater results, the Commission of Inquiry into housing was told today by the Wellington City Council. The need in major centres was far greater than elsewhere and should receive special consideration, the council said. It also suggested legislation for the creation of local housing authorities.

“There is an urgent need to simplify the procedures for Government approval of local body housing schemes,” the council said. «

“Even more serious than the effort involved in completing the procedures are the delays to the projects.

. “From the time of council approval of a project to the gaining of final loan authority can be a matter of years. “During this process rising costs upset budgeting and loan requirements need to be reassessed.” The council said it had taken since 1964 to go so far as it had on the Arlington urban renewal scheme (no old buildings cleared and no new ones yet built) because of the mass of statutory procedures and long delays by Government departments. “The Ministry of Works, the State Advances Corporation, the Health Department, the Treasury, the Minister of Housing, and sometimes the Cabinet Works Committee and the Cabinet itself, as well as the Loans Board, can be directly involved in an application,” the submissions said. “It is now only too apparent that the system must bfc

modified if local authorities are to undertake housing as a permanent and major responsibility In accordance with a planned five-year programme brought up to date annually.” Local housing authorities could be constituted by Order-in-Council if the Government were satisfied that the authority had the ability to do. the work. Initially the main centres could be considered suitable for becoming housing authorities. The Wellington City Council had had a five-year housing programme for several years, but this could proceed only on a most erratic course, it was submitted. “There is no Government policy on the amount of finance that will be made available. to the council year by year. “Some projects have been approved without question. Others have been deferred and others merely delayed without comment,” the council said.