STATE HOUSING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 36, 11 August 1937, Page 7

STATE HOUSING

SCHEME FOR DARGAVILLE

(By Telegraph—Pres* Association.)

DARGAVILLE, August 10.

A statement that a scheme of State housing could be undertaken in Dargaville in the near future was given by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in charge of housing, Mr. J. A. Lee, when in Dargaville this afternoon. Land had already been purchased by the Government for this purpose, and it was the Government's intention to proceed with the calling of tenders at an early date.

"When the housing scheme was first mooted in official circles, Mr. Coates mentioned Dargaville as. a likely place for putting the scheme into operation and the Government gave him an understanding that Dargaville would be one of the first towns on the list after the larger centres had been. attended to," said Mr. Lee. "Mr. Coates's silence in this matter has been due to the fact that he looked to the Governr rrient to fulfil its promise to him." ;

■ Mr. A. Tyndall. Director of Housing, who accompanied Mr. Lee, stated that it was not his intention to erect less than ten houses in any one placft. Tenders for houses in Dargaville would most likely be called in a few weeks' time and the foundations for the structures should be laid within three months if everything went to schedule.

A deputation of builders waited on Mr. Lee and Mr. Tyndall to go into the position. Mr. Lee urged builders to co-operate with him when the time came for tendering for the work, and Mr. Tyndall requested combined assistance to alleviate the housing problem.

The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, M.P. for Kaipara, assured Mr. Lee that there would be no difficulty in obtaining tenants for the houses.

After hearing a deputation of unemployed regarding various matters, which Mr. Lee promised to refer to the Minister of Labour, the official party left for Auckland late this afternoon.