STATE HOUSES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23149, 22 September 1938, Page 16

STATE HOUSES

MORE NEW HOMES O>NE TREE HILL BOROUGH THE QUESTION OF RATES " Apparently the Government realises that the cheapest rates in the Dominion nro available in the One Tree Ilill borough," said the Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, at a meeting of the Borough Council last night, when it was reported that tenders for the construction of a further 01 State houses in the borough had been called. The completion of current Contracts would bring the total number of Government house units in the borough to 213. Those comprise 93 dwellings . under construction on the Harp of Erin estate and tenders let for 56 and called for 04 in the Cadma,n estate. It was reported that the Government had purchased a further 11 acres of land in the borough for building purposes. " This raises an •important point—the payment of rates," stated the town clerk, Mr. A. Leeso, in a report to the council. "The State now pays full rates on all occupied dwellings, but as the period of tenancy cannot* be determined until after the close of the .financial year the rates are not paid until the following .June. This necessitates the carrying forward, as arrears, of all such rates. In future these will represent a substantial sum." The town clerk recommended that the department bo asked to consider the practicability of paying rates in full prior to March 31 each year, and that any adjustment required under the existing arrangement be made by a cash refund to the local authority immedi-1 ately the amount is known. This was adopted.

APPEARANCE OF DWELLINGS • COMPLAINT BY COUNCIL Objections to the exterior appearance of State houses in course of erection lacing tho Great South Bond were voiced at last night's meeting of the One Tree Hill Borough Council by Mr. L. Mandeno. "Considering their proximity to the main entrance to the city they are not of very pleasing appearance," he said. It was pointed out that the Government was not required to take out building permits and consequently local bodies had no jurisdiction in the matter. The council decided to write to tho Housing Department asking that houses built near main roads in future be of better exterior appearance.