STATE HOUSING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 18 November 1937, Page 4

STATE HOUSING

DISCUSSION AT AVEST END

In view of the extensive bmldmg programme being earned out at Best Lid under the Government s housing scheme, the West End Progressive Association has interested itself to a considerable extent m the Flatter An instance of this was provided at the annual meeting of that bodj, held, last night, when there was much discussion as to the houses themselves and the rents to be charged. Jn the annual report the president (Mr A , AY Just) had referred to the houses as carrying too heavy a rental, and he further qualified this statement at last niaht’s meeting. > , , -«r The opinion was put forward by Mr A Pcnketh that in comparison witn the general run of rents m Palmerston North the rentals to he asked weie fair enough. He considered the house were very comfortable homes. “MrJ.Hodgens, ALP.. tokl me that the houses would be built at a cost of£looo, at 1 j per cent., and would be let at from 16s to 18s per week, saidi Mr Just, who added that in his own opinion if the Government by. their housing policy intended helping the working man they were not doing it if thev were charging 32s 6d per week. Mr P. A. Warren said that in any ease the association could do nothing in. th© matter. .., , The chairman, however consideied that they might do something to stop the high rental charges being, made. He thought that, as regards the construction of the houses themselves, a private builder could have erected houses at £2OO less. , Air Penketh: The challenge is alwavs open from the Government. The chairman pointed out that the compulsorv use of New- Zealand materials added to the cost of erection Air Penketh: AA’o should give the scheme a chance before we condemn lt- Tho houses u-ere first to be built for those wdiose income did not exceed £3OO a year, said the chairman. Now there appeared to be no such income limit. It seemed as if the Government were catering for the, class of tenant who could afford a house of lus ow-n. It looked as though they were out lor the best tenants. If the houses had been erected at £BOO and a rental charged of 18s they would have been alright.