LOW RENT HOUSES

Evening Star, Issue 22632, 26 April 1937, Page 2

LOW RENT HOUSES

A HAWKE’S BAY STATEMENT MINISTER'S INVITATION TO FIND THEM [Special to the ‘ Stab.’] WELLINGTON, April 26. In addition to the advantages of mass-production methods, the Government’s Housing Department has at its head in Mr J. A. Lee a clever controversialist, who really enjoys the flood of criticisms pouring on the Governmeat iu connection with its activities. The president of Hastings Chamber or Commerce recently made comment which was published throughout New Zealand, suggesting that the Government would not bo as good a landlord as had been many private landlords who had made available in Hastings houses at 17s Cd to £1 per week. Mr Lee promptly gob into touch with the Hastings gentleman, and tho results were given to your correspondent, with tho suggestion that as the criticism had gone all oyer New Zealand the happy sequel might also be well broadcasted. “ When I heard about houses in Hastings at 17s 6d and £1 a week,” explained Mr Lee, ‘ I immediately wrote to tho president of the Chamber of Commerce stating that the Government had no intention of building houses in any town where good houses were available at such figures, and I asked the president to send me a list of those wh : h were available, so that tho Hastings applicants for State houses could be referred to this opportunity. Mr Baird, the president, has replied stating that there are no empty houses available at the present time, and that his remarks have been misrepresented.” STATE A HARSH LANDLORD? There had been charges against the State as being a harsh landlord, comtfiented Mi*. Lee, but they were ricliculous, though ho thought most of the fears expressed had been that tho Government would allow undesirable tenants to take advantage of it. The idea had been created through the experience of the State Advances Corporation during the depression, but examination of the files of that office, contended Mr Lee, would demonstrate that few landlords in New Zealand had been so reasonable. He personally knew of numerous instances where, during the depths of the depression, houses which cost over £I,OOO to erect were being let by the corporation at about 7s 6d per week because the occupier was a decent citizen and that figure was all ho could afford to pay in rent. “ Of course, here and there,” added Mr Lee, “an effort was made, when incomes were being restored, to return rents to an equitable figure, having regard to the value of the property. In a very largo number of instances the State office occupied the position of a trustee for the original owner, who had not forfeited his interest in the property. Under such conditions the State Advances Corporation was bound to attempt to secure at least the market value of tho rental, for it is one thing to be generous with what belongs to the State and another thing to be generous at someone else’siexpense. The State can only ensure a reasonable rent to its tenants if the 2 or 3 per cent, of notorious defaulters—those who will not pay even when receiving an adequate income—are dealt with.' Every tenant is receiving the best possible treatment, and 99 per' cent, of them will not mind the defaulter being firmly handled.”-