THE HOUSING DIFFICULTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18873, 28 May 1923, Page 2

THE HOUSING DIFFICULTY.

PRIME MINISTER S 'PROPOSAL. INCREASE IN ADVANCES PROPOSED. (Pkb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May-.-27.' ’ , : As a contribution; towards the attempted isolation'of the housing difficulty the Prune ’Minister "intends to. ask Parliament to amend,'in the direction of increasing from 75 to 95. the percentage of the cost .the 1 Govermpenb , ’c,an I,end qaAjWQrfarv own 'houses... Tic mh<te' - tßis'amipPiicempht this morning’ tp. 4 deputation ' from, the Council of Christian; c:ongjCqga.ti6ns, tthich was introduced by .the (Mayor of Auckland.' : *v ; ‘,‘l’am going to ask Parliament to inata; a serious alteration in the law,” £aidMr Massey, ‘‘which will encourage the building of a great many more houses. At present the Government, under the Advances to •Settlers and Advances, to Workers’ Act may fmd 75 per cent, of tho cost of a buildings Tliat has worked very well in the past; but 1 think it is capable of improvement, mid I intend to,ask Parliament-to improveit. lam going to ask Parliament to increase the amount wo can. advance from 76 per cent, to 95 per cent, You will no doubt think that that' is a pretty, big risk, and I don’t shut my eyes to the fact; but the money is lent on what me known aa table mortgages. That is to say, that as soon as the first half-year’s interest is paid liability is automatically lessened,, and tho security of State is improved, and goes on improving. I think Parliament will agree to my suggestion. Of'-course.-we. know 'that if the’ percentage be TK&SaseTTai’' I suggest, wc would have to provide a lot of money' probably a million pounds, as there would be a rush to take advantage of the Government’s new scheme, ‘‘and that,” said Mr Massey, ‘‘is what the Government is doing in the matter of the shortage of houses.’’ He went on to say that ho did 'net know exactly what the Mayor of Auckland had in his mind in regard to tho ■amelioration of the position, but if he (Mr Massey) could assist Auckland, or any other city where there was a housing difficulty, lie would bo quite prepared to consider, any ! reasonable nroposal. Turning to the cpies- ! tion of the accommodation, of immigrants ; that had beau raised the Prime Minister I said that if immigrants wore of the right i type they would bo ready to build their o\y.u, j houses. The dominion had been successful up to the present in getting good batches I alK i there were always building tradesmen 1 among them, just the sort- of people that we want to build homos for themselves, and j for dthCr people. Speaking generally, Mr l Massey said' he had outlined what the Gov--1 eminent had done. lie had explained that it was increasin'.: the opportunities for people to build. It must be. remcinbergd that Auckland had gone ahead in a most unprecedented and wonderful way during the past few years. In addition to which they must remember the, gap in building caused by the war. If tho deputation could suggest anything more than the Government was doing, or proposed, he would most cordially try and help.