STATE HOUSING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 11 September 1937, Page 10

STATE HOUSING

MR LEE’S REPLY TO CRITICISM A CHALLENGE WHICH STILL STANDS [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, This Day. Replying to criticism concerning the cost and rents of the houses being erected under the State scheme, the Un-der-Secretary for Housing. Mr ,1. A. Lee, said this morning that the Government had announced, when the scheme was launched, that if anybody could build better houses or houses as good as the Government, and let them at a cheaper rent, they were invited to send in their plans, specifications and prices, and the Govenrment would sign them up for the job. “It is one tiling to write letters to the press, but it is another tiling to deliver the good; at cheaper prices,” said Mr Lee. “That challenge was made at the outset of operations, and repeated since, and it still stands. Anybody who can build a durable house of good quality at a lower price than the Government, can have years of work. This is the only test.” When asked if flic Government was contemplating building flats in Hie main cities for pensioners whose means do not permit them to pay the presentday rents, Mr Lee said lie was not prepared to disclose the Government’s intentions in this respect at the moment. The question would be given consideration later.