MORE STATE HOUSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 16

MORE STATE HOUSES

CONSTRUCTION AT THAMES PRESENT TENDERS TOO HIGH [by telegraph—own correspondent] THAMES, Friday

Advice has been received by Mr. James Thorn, M.P., from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in Charge of Housing, Mr. J. A. Lee, that the Housing Department had recently called tenders for an additional ten houses at Thames, but owing to the high prices submitted no tenders could be accepted.

The department is at present negotiating with the tenderers with the view to a reduction in the price, and as soon as satisfactory quotations are received building operations will begin.

Mr. Lee's statement was read by Mr. Thorn at the official opening of the ten new houses erected by the Government in Alfred and Grey Streets. Mr. Thorn said the Housing Department had recently purchased land from the borough on which to erect a further ten units. Land had also been purchased at Paeroa for 25 houses, and ten were to be erected at Waihi.

WHANOAREI DWELLINGS TENDERS CALLED FOR SIX [by thJlecraph—OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Friday Tenders are being called by the Government for the erection of six more houses, five single-unit and one twounit, in Whangarei under the State housing scheme. At present 29 houses are being built in the town and 12 of these are almost ready for occupation.

It is expected that the new houses will be allotted to tenants this month. Over 100 applications have already been received, and an inspector of the Housing Department interviewed applicants this week, prior to a ballot being held. Thtf Housing Department has bought another area of eight acres of land in the borough for the erection of a further block of houses.