Nearly £10,000,000 Spent On State Housing Scheme

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1940, Page 3

Nearly £10,000,000 Spent On State Housing Scheme

LPer Press Association. Copyright 1 CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The housing problem in Christchurch and adjoining boroughs will be in hand by the end of the year, said the Minister for Housing (Mr Armstrong), this morning. Throughout the South Island the same conditions applied, but in the North Island the problem was still difficult. In Wellington and Auckland, and in Palmerston North, Hamilton and Whangarei, which were growing steadily, the demand was hard to meet. For the Dominion the total number of tenders let was 10,230, and up to January, 8281 houses had been started. Of that number, 5745 were occupied, and the remaining 2536 were, on the average, half completed. Effect of Defence Building On the whole, therefore, the equivalent of about 7000 homes had been completed. The effect of emergency building for the Defence Department was still being felt. Construction work was going on in 116 towns, and tenders had been called for land in 122 centres. The expenditure to date was almost £9,750,000, including land purchased ahead of requirements. Roading and reticulation for water, electricity and sewerage were also included in the figures. Commitments were about £12,500,000, including land purchased in advance and contracts let.