HOUSING PROBLEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23382, 26 June 1939, Page 9

HOUSING PROBLEM

WELLINGTON SOLUTI0 v CITY COUNCIL SCHEME PROMOTING HOME BUILDING PROMISING POSSIBILITIES Details of the Wellington City housing scheme were given on Saturday by Mr. Malcolm Fraser, a member of the Wellington City Council, who is visiting Auckland. With Mr. R. L. Macalist'er, another member of the council, Mr. Fraser has teen mainly responsible for initiating the scheme. It is claimed for it that it will solve the problem of enabling the man of small means to provide a home of his own. The first loan under the scheme has already been granted to a private individual.

"The object underlying the - scheme ■ lias been to help the man who is ready to help himself," said Mr. Fraser. "It enables the home-seeker to provide the type of house he wants, with the arrangements he desires, of the quality and standard suited to his needs and within his means, in tho locality ho likes, with or without gardens, free from all irksome controls, a house he will own himself, so that- his sacrifice and eifort in making are without his having something to show for it. The aim, too, is, to provide this on a basis as to weekly payments, equivalent only to tho normal rentals now being charged. Small Cottage-builder "The scheme is specially designed to enable the small cottage-builder, who generally is actually engaged in the work himself, to operate on what would bo practically a cash basis in regard to all his material and labour; thus introducing the element of competition and eliminating all, overhead costs. This, it is believed, would be the biggest factor in reducing housing costs which could be applied: ' Under the scheme, too, no additional overhead -of any kind to the council, the lending: institution, or the builder, in the way of additional administration, is involved. No man is to be withdrawn.' from actual production for overhead work. " - "It is interesting to recall," said" Mr, Fraser, "that when the council's.: representatives went before the Local • Bills Committee of the House of Representatives during the passage, of the Act, the only comment. made by the, committee, who apparently were im- ■ pressed with the proposals, was an inquiry as to why the scheme was not made applicable to the whole of tho , Dominion, instead of being confined to ; Wellington City. Finance Arrangements "The Wellington City Council has attempted to mobilise nnd make available the large funds in institutions available for investment on mortgage in the erection 'of dwelling-houses. It seeks to do so by assisting at tho point where tho existing organisation - had broken down, that is, by bridging ' r.he gap between the owner's deposit and tho amount to- be advanced on first mortgage, which previously had. been met by second mortgage money. "Moreover, this gap is being bridged in a much better way—more economical, more straightforward, and less cumbersome. The gap is bridged by providing all the finance under first - mortgage up to 90 per cent of the total cost, thus eliminating second mortgage high rates of interest, second mortgage legal and other costs, and the conflicting interests of first and second mortgagee." WINTER SCULLING AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES Double, sculls trials were held by the Auckland winter sculling club 011 Saturday afternoon. The crews found the water conditions lively a strong westerly breeze sending in a side roll along tho waterfront road course. Mr. Darcy Hadfield was starter and Mr. K. Halliday, of Hamilton, was the judge. Crews in the first heat were:—E. Piggiri, C. Brierley; 11. Jcllie, G.- Hewlett; R. B. Smith, C. Kidd. Jellie appeared to have a slight advantage soon after the start, butSmith soon moved to the front and won by one and a-quarter lengths. Jellie was second, half a length in front of Piggin. Tho second heat crews were:—G. spring, J. Howe; C. Chamberlain, J. Barton; H. Spoon : R. Alexander. Oxspring and Spoon collided soon after tho start and the race was stopped and restarted. Chamberlain moved away very fast, followed by Oxsprins. Chamberlain soon had a lead of a length. Spoor settled down into a good, swing, however, and took the lead to win by two and a-half lengths from Chamberlain, who finished half a canvas in front of Oxspring. R. B. Smith and C. Kidd met H. Spoor and R. Alexander in the final. Both crews raced together for a quarter of the way. At half-way Spoor had a half-length's lead, but Smith quickened his stroke and passed Spoor to win by a bare length.