FARM LABOUR HOUSING

Evening Star, Issue 25300, 7 October 1944, Page 8

FARM LABOUR HOUSING

ARMY HUTMENTS MADE AVAILABLE HIRE OR PURCHASE BY FARMERS , (Special.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. Proposals for both temporary and permanent accommodation on farms to house additional labour were outlined by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. B. Roberts, last night. " At the present critical stage of the war," said the Minister, ".New Zealand's contribution to the food resources of the United Nations represents a major portion of her war effort. Many farmers may find difficulty in employing aditionaT men owing to the lack of suitable housing, and obviously we cannot allow factors such as these to nullify the scheme. "In order to keep down costs and to permit the erection of the necessary buildings in the shortest possible time, it is proposed to utilise surplus army buildings for temporary accommodation. Two types of hutments suitable for single men are offered, and these may be either hired or purchased. They are lined and provided with suitable heating and will be equipped with rain-water tanks if a connection to an existing water supply is not available. " A 10ft by Bft hut suitable for a single man may be hired at a rent of 25s per quarter, or purchased for £4O. A 20ft by Bft hut suitable for two single men is also available, the rent being £2 per quarter and the purchase price £6O. "In addition," said the Minister, " temporarv quarters for married men are available for hiring only. These comprise a bedroom, kitchen, living room, and. combined bathroom and laundry, the overall measurements of the building being 40ft by Bft. The fittings include, a cooking stove, sink and bench, copper, tubs, and bath, and the rent is £o per quarter. The buildings will be transported to and erected on the farm by the Housing Construction Department without any additional charge to the farmer. PERMANENT HOMES AVAILABLE. "Two standard types of permanent homes for farm workers have been designed, and they can be supplied to the farmer at a most reasonable cost. The larger type comprises two bedrooms, a livmg room, kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. In the smaller type the living room and kitchen are combined in one room. Both afford scope for expansion by the addition of two extra rooms at a later date. They are complete and will be supplied ready for occupation. " The purchase .price' of these homes may either be paid in cash or, if the farmer is unable to arrange the necessary finance either from his own resources or through his existing mortgagee, the State Advances Corporation "may in approved cases make finance available on table mortgage at '4 l per cent, where there is a mortgage. The approval of a primary production council is, however, necessary before the supply of a house can be authorised, thereby ensuring that only where extra accommodation is necessary on a farm as a measure of assistance in the scheme for increasing production will this machinery be used. " The new scheme is not intended to replace the existing procedure under the Rural Housing Act, and is being made available purely to meet the present emergency. Accordingly the Government's offer is open only until November 30 next. " Huts of the 10ft by Bft and 20ft by Bft sizes may, if desired, be purchased direct from the War Assets Realisation Board as they stand," the Minister concluded. " They are sold ex camps, the farmer making his own arrangements for delivery and erection. The prices are £25 and £SO respectively."