BUILDING SCHEME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 50, 29 January 1937, Page 8

BUILDING SCHEME

AUCKLAND LAND PUItCHASE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. One of tire largest vacant blocks of land close to the city' of Auckland, and locally known as the Casey Estate, has been purchased by the Government for the purpose of a housing scheme. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said to-day that the Ministry of Housing had acquired the estate at_ a reasonable cost. The purchase price would work out at about £17,000. The block would be Slightly redesigned for the purpose of increasing the size of the sections, but there would be at least 120 sections available and they would work out at £l4O a section. The land, which is on Richmond Road, is the largest vacant block close to the city, continued Mr Savage. Ihe Auckland City Council, which had investigated a very large number of properties, had stated that in its opinion the Casey Estate, at the price at which it was available, made it most suitable for a housing scheme. The council liau acquired an option over the land which it had not exorcised but had been pleased to leave it to the Government. Referring to the purchase price, Mr Savage said this was only further evidence of the capacity of the Government to buy building sections at a price that showed an extraordinary saving over the cost of similar sections purchased a few years ago. . , In all probability, while the Estate (Crown property) is being.further roaded ancl dealt with, a supplementary to that which will be commenced in Auckland directly Will be proceeded with on the Casey Estate.