MORE RURAL HOUSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22511, 15 December 1947, Page 6

MORE RURAL HOUSES

TASK OF COUNTY COUNCILS REPLY BY MR. SEMPLE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 13. Where there was evidence of a continuing demand for State rental houses in country towns and townships the Government was prepared to expand the Housing Department’s activities to the fullest possible extent, said the Minister of Works, Mr. Semple, in reply to representations by the Federated Farmers. The Minister said the Government was anxious to co-operate to assist as much as possible, but felt that much greater advantage could be taken of the assistance already available through legislation to farm property owners for improving or increasing housing accommodation. It was recommended that Federated Farmers should strongly represent to those county councils which were not operating under the Rural Housing Act, 1939, to do so without delay. The proposal by the Federated Farmers was that in isolated rural areas the Government should erect up to 1000 State rental houses on land to be acquired, the Federated Farmers guaranteeing the payment of rentals to the State Advances Corporation. It -was considered, however, said Mr. Semple, that county councils should accept the responsibility for administration, guarantee of rentals and general supervision of properties rather than for these to be assumed by the Feder ated Farmers. Opposition might oe voiced by county Councils to such a proposal, said Mr. Semple, but he was sure it was in the best interests of ihe farming community. The Minister asked ‘ the Federated Farmers to arrange a survey of the number, size and location of dwellings needed in isolated areas.