RENTING PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24716, 19 September 1941, Page 7

RENTING PROBLEM

EFFECT OF STATE HOUSING FINANCE FOR HOME-SEEKERS The renting problem and the influence of the State housing scheme on the situation were discussed by Mr R. S. McKenzie in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand last night. “ The renting problem is still with us," Mr McKenzie said, “ and in my opinion the solution does not lie in the Government enterprise of building homes in outlying places, and at the same time handicapping private building enterprise. One would expect extreme Socialistic ideals to be abandoned at such a time as this,” he said, “ when our Empire is engulfed in war with a nation ridden by National Socialism. “ I had a trade union member recently discussing the purchase of a small bouse on terms,” Mr McKenzie continued, “ and he told me that his union secretary had circularised him ‘to keep on applying for State houses so that the demand could be kept up.’ He did not want to rent a home—he wanted a stake in the country. It may be that the Minister of Housing, Mr H. T. Armstrong, is not aware of what at least one enterprising union secretary is doing, and the Minister’s statement that thousands of people are waiting for’ State houses may not reveal the exact position. “ Constructive suggestions have been made more than once from former presidents that finance is the housing shortage problem,” he said “If the State Advances Department would arrange for up. to 90 per cent, of the purchase money for a home it would enable home-seekers with £IOO or upwards to obtain a home of the type and location they can afford This may be vastly different from what the Government thinks they should have. They could aiTange their own purchase or the erection of a house.” he added, “thereby enabling an army of public servants to be devoted to other duties.”