SOLDIERS' HOMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22878, 5 November 1937, Page 14

SOLDIERS' HOMES

SETTLEMENT PROJECT

MOVE IN AUCKLAND HOUSES AT LOW RENTALS Proposals under consideration by the executive of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association for the launching of a housing scheme lor ex-servicemen wore announced by the president, Mr. ! J. W. Kendall, at a meeting of mem- | bers last night. The tentative plans prepared by the committee were unam- | mouslv approved. ! Mr. Kendall said it, had been sugj gestod by the executive that tho assoj ciation should purchase a block of land ! as a sito for a community settlement ! and then approach tho Canteen Trust ! Board for a grant of £IO.OOO or j £15,000 and the National War Funds i Council for a contribution toward tho ! cost of the building programme. Tho i Government would bo asked to provide ' a three to one subsidy, on tho basis that | when returned soldiers and their j families no longer used the settlement j it would revert to the State. "The idea is to build two and threej roomed houses, the rent being based on : a graduated scale," Mr. Kendall con- | tinned. "On this basis a man with a ! weekly income of £2 10s would possibly j pay a rent of 2s (3d, while others earnj ing more would pay a higher rental. !As yet, a site has not been decided 1 upon, but it "ill have to be within an hour's motor run of Auckland." Air Kendal! explained that it. would be necessary to obtain the land as | security before applying for any finance < to develop it, aod the association could, j by realising on its assets, find sufficient j for this purpose. The settlement would | be available for all ex-soldiers, irrespective of their age or of any pensions they were receiving. The executive's proposals were unanimously approved, and the president and the committee were congratulated on their initiative.