DUNEDIN'S PROGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 16

DUNEDIN'S PROGRESS

COUNCIL'S HOUSING SCHEME

CHANCE TO OWN A HOME

[BY TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT 1 DUNEDIN, Thursday

Officially welcoming delegates, and opening the annual conference of the Institute of Architects, the Mayor, Mr. A. H. Allen, said there seemed to be an impression in the North that Dunedin was static. He was glad of the opportunity, however, of being able to remove that impression.

It was worth noting that for the year ended March 31, 1936, a total of 745 building permits had been issued, involving £347,000. In 1937 the figures were 890 permits and £441,000; in 1938, 909 permits and £760,000; and for the 10 months ended January 31, 757 permits had been issued, the amount involved being £575,000. Those figures, which had shown a steady advance, proved that Dunedin was prospering steadily. • Referring to the City housing scheme, the Mayor said that it was one that gave the worker an opportunity to acquire his own home. In three years £300,000 had been borrowed and 236 houses had already been authorised, of which 172 were completed and 40 were under construction.

Under the scheme a worker was 9no whose income, with that of his wife, did not exceed "7 a week. The' council would not finance over £1250, and the minimum deposit was 7$ per cent of the purchase price. Repayment was over a period of 30 years, and weekly payments varied from 28s 6d to 32s 8d a week, including insurance, rates and other charges except maintenance. The council believed it was better for a man to own his home than to be a tenant, as a citizen who had a "stake" in the country helped it on the road to prosperity.